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Author Topic: Old Bench  (Read 10767 times)

mart

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #15 on: November 26, 2012, 01:56:37 pm »
Someone else (I think Ghopper) had the same opinion !! Could be !!  Guess we can all go to Hosmans and check it out !!  I like it !!
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ghopper1924

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #16 on: November 26, 2012, 02:05:35 pm »
Quote from: KC on November 26, 2012, 01:45:49 pm
Ruby Lane would be much better than Ebay or Craig's List!

I am wondering if it was a homemade item that married two pieces in original construction.  That wasn't unheard of.  Everything was used!  Wonderful piece!  Without a hands on...I would be guess-timating from late 1800's.


That was my original question. However in looking at the hardware it looks more like a "ye old" hand-done evocation of the 16th or 17th centuries rather than the real thing. I've got an oak box from 1620 and the hardware does not look like this. Kind of a mystery but I think Wull was right. Incidentally the "monk" moniker was more of a romantic buzzword to sell furniture rather than an indication of actual ecclesiastical craftsmanship.
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mart

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #17 on: November 26, 2012, 02:40:17 pm »
As time rolled on you are correct !!  Anything similarly made was called a monks bench !!  But I will give the monk the benefit of doubt !!  Mostly because I can`t see its use otherwise !! Sitting for any length of time would be very uncomfortable !!  Maybe a cushion is missing ???
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bigwull

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #18 on: November 26, 2012, 04:10:34 pm »
The only cushion a monk had was the cheeks of his bum,...No creature comforts for them....
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mart

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #19 on: November 26, 2012, 04:34:08 pm »
You got my point Wullie !! 
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bigwull

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #20 on: November 26, 2012, 04:58:16 pm »
Quote from: mart on November 26, 2012, 04:34:08 pm
You got my point Wullie !! 
Oh!...yeah...there are time,s when i can be a bit slow on the uptake....and other times when i,m as sharp as a needle....and with you Mart....i,ve got to be on my tootsies.... ;D
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frogpatch

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #21 on: November 26, 2012, 06:00:56 pm »
Lemon Oil everyday for a week, every week for a month, every month for a year and every year forever. A product called Briwax can restore the original patina as good as can be expected. Nice piece.
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hosman321

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #22 on: November 26, 2012, 11:37:40 pm »
Thank you everyone for your comments! I think mine may be 19th century after all. I'm posting more pictures. It is all hand carved but the cut/saw marks on the inside are a bit confusing. There are traces of what looks like faint red milk paint on the underside of the lid along with the dark patina. I could be seeing things though. It seems that all of the construction is with wood dowels but there are nails and screws of varying ages where places of damage or loosening joints were. None of the nails or screws look older than 1890s or so. I can still see the pencil marks from when this bench was made. Seems like if it were sanded recently, those would be gone? Maybe it had been painted and just stripped?
*edit- From help from tales and a bit of research, they do look like pit saw marks, which was less popular after 1860 or so. But of course, still could be used today.
Sorry I've been gone lately, I started to breed bengal cats and they take up all of my time and energy! I haven't forgotten you guys at all!
« Last Edit: November 27, 2012, 12:37:48 am by hosman321 »
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hosman321

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #23 on: November 26, 2012, 11:39:49 pm »
a few more...
« Last Edit: November 27, 2012, 12:16:32 am by hosman321 »
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talesofthesevenseas

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #24 on: November 27, 2012, 12:36:52 am »
We were comparing the pit saw marks on my old china hutch to those in the second to the last photo. Here is the china hutch for comparison, this photo is in the Saw Marks topic in the Special Threads section of this forum. Be sure to view Hosman's photo in full size to see the saw marks.

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jacon4

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #25 on: November 27, 2012, 01:43:31 am »
I believe it to be English, early 18th century

Hmmmmmm, no, i dont think so. The carving is crude and the wood does not appear to be oak. I would guess this is an imported repro of a monks or hall bench, mid 20th century done in the jacobean or mannerist style. Agrees with ghopper1924 on the hardware, it's not period plus the way it's mortised into the top of the chest is again, quite crude. Google antique monk/hall bench and you'll see tons of this form.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2012, 01:50:26 am by jacon4 »
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hosman321

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #26 on: November 27, 2012, 01:46:08 am »
Jacon, you always have a way of letting me down gently when I'm really excited about something. I thank you for that.
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jacon4

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #27 on: November 27, 2012, 01:55:18 am »
lol, i was modifying my post when you posted! Sorry, wish i could have better news on your piece and this is really out of my field of interest but it's just not a period 17-18th century piece. Take a look at this guys site, great pics, authentic pieces of 15-17th century english furniture forms.
http://www.marhamchurchantiques.com/
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jacon4

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #28 on: November 27, 2012, 02:02:29 am »
Plus, does it really matter if it's period or not? The main thing to me is, do i like it. I think a decorator hit the nail on the head recently when she said " I dont care about antiques, i care about interesting things to live with".
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bigwull

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Re: Old Bench
« Reply #29 on: November 27, 2012, 06:24:54 am »
Quote from: jacon4 on November 27, 2012, 01:43:31 am
I believe it to be English, early 18th century

Hmmmmmm, no, i dont think so. The carving is crude and the wood does not appear to be oak. I would guess this is an imported repro of a monks or hall bench, mid 20th century done in the jacobean or mannerist style. Agrees with ghopper1924 on the hardware, it's not period plus the way it's mortised into the top of the chest is again, quite crude. Google antique monk/hall bench and you'll see tons of this form.
it does help if you read previous posts....we,ve been to Google and back again... ;)
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