I completed this project an hour before we headed to the hospital for my daughter’s birth. Modeled after a Harvey Ellis/ Stickley piece from the very early 20th century, it is one of the most complex projects I’ve taken on. There are twelve different types of dovetails and true through-mortise and tenon joinery. Around each of the walnut pulls is 1/4″ of solid copper inlay. Allow me to preach a bit here… if you have the patience, get a piece of furniture in unstained cherry. It will be pretty at first, but over the years, cherry darkens in a truly gorgeous way. It just gets prettier with each passing year. This piece, photographed when it was new, is now so much prettier. Sometimes, one of the best things we can do is to get out of the way and let the wood do its thing. Instead, many woodworkers try to hide things with a bunch of stain. A fine piece of furniture can and should be a true celebration of creation, and there’s a certain beautiful guilelessness in that.
