Monday, November 1, 2010

A Table for Two


This summer I had the opportunity to marry to good friends. To celebrate their commitment to each other I created this shaker nightstand. The following is the description given to the newlyweds.
"This nightstand was based on an old Shaker classic. Clean lines, pleasing proportions, tapered legs, a chamfered top and a single drawer are all characteristic of the timeless Shaker nightstand. The entire piece was constructed of solid wood and was designed to endure lifetimes of use. The black cherry table frame was constructed with mortise and tenon joinery and affixed with pins created from the same cherry stock.
Inlay was set into the background of the top as an outline to highlight the size of the top. The two circles that overlap in the center of the top represent the two of you becoming one. The colored strips of inlay on the sides of the top spell Mo on the left and Jon on the right in Morris code. The black inlay is ebony and the white is American holly.
The drawer was constructed with English details such as thin drawer sides, half blind dovetails at the front and full dovetails at the rear, and drawer slips to increase the wear life of the drawer. The front of the drawer is curly maple with a hand-forged knob. The drawer sides are cherry with a poplar bottom. I personally put a lot of details into this drawer in hopes that it will always house something that will benefit your marriage, like a book you read together or a marriage journal.
Hidden inside this piece are three pennies one from each of your birth years, 1972 and 1980, and one from your year of marriage, 2010."





























1 comment:

Aimee said...

One of the nicest pieces I have ever seen you make!!