Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650–1830

[mart]

I know they didn`t have bathrooms but how did they design these hotel bathrooms to integrate with the 1800`s design wise ?? Or  did they just install modern fixtures and keep the bathroom doors closed so  no one could see !!

[jacon4]

Well, the baths were small, say 8x5, it was not difficult to find space for them although pipe routing was difficult because directly below were public rooms and NO PIPE, NO DUCT could intrude on that 1st floor. None of this was a problem in new addition, it was that mansion where all the issues came into being and was SUPPOSED to be a minor part of the project.

[KC]

Wow...this subject has become very interesting! 

My kids adopted from Russia never used a toilet until we adopted them.  They had "poop pots" (large cooking pots) in the orphanage!  Then, majority of the plumbing in Russia still doesn't accommodate toilet paper so you can't flush it - goes in the trash can!  WE ARE SO SPOILED HERE!

The most important up-to-date part of homes is the kitchen and bathrooms.  So, they would have to update some but....keep it in style with the home! 

Mart, I couldn't imagine you leaving the farm and going to that house with just a suitcase.  Made me laugh!  You would be bored out of your mind without a field to plow!

[mart]

LOL !!  I should have said if I could move it here !!  Your right,, I am just no city girl !! Here I can walk outside and I have the horses, garden, stocked catfish pond and 30 acres to roam !!  If I get tired of this one I have 30 more acres down the road and another catfish pond !!
I do not have time here to get bored !!  Should be outside picking pears now but have not made it yet !!

[jacon4]

Should be outside picking pears now but have not made it yet !!

This is what happens to old women, they can't cut it anymore, can't even pick the pears!

[mart]

LOL !!  I am beginning to think you may be right !!

[jacon4]

Of course i am right!

Meanwhile, there is a tavern table coming to sale in a couple weeks. This table i have been tracking since 2003, when albert sack bought it at auction for 93k for a Virginia collector. Now Albert, in his later years while retired here in NC to be closer to his family, had been known to over-pay for objects but, in his defence, it takes 2 to tango at auction. It last sold at Northeast in NH, this time it's at Pook, in Penn.

In any event, get ready to get BORED TO DEATH on this table as i plan on posting on it when catalog is released later this month. It's walnut, from NYC and it is inlaid, with the date inlaid on drawer, 1731. It has a very german, dutch type feel to the decoration and it will be interesting to see how it does this time around. Since it's on the cover of the pook catalog, they obviously think it's special, i do too.
http://www.pookandpook.com/americana-auction-october-7-and-8-2016/

[mart]

Have to admit,, its a nice table !!  But W&M with Penn. Dutch/German !!  Don`t think I have seen that before !! Whats the history of the table ??

[ghopper1924]

It's a beauty alright!

[jacon4]

But W&M with Penn. Dutch/German !!  Don`t think I have seen that before !! Whats the history of the table ??

Well, this table was built in New York City  and, there were a lot of german, dutch people there, they  all didn't go to
 pennsylvania. The reason i say the inlaid decoration has a german/dutch feel to it is, that compass star and those flowers/tulips were a big deal to their cultural history. Look at this desk, found in Brooklyn built most likely by germans/dutch because there are inscriptions on interior in their language. Also, the desk is sweet gum, a prime wood in new york furniture building in the early years.

[ghopper1924]

Is that desk ca. 1700?

[mart]

My guess would be about 1760 !!

[jacon4]

yes, say 1690-1710 or so, pretty early. As you can see, it has 2 framed panels in front, a 17th century theme but also, a dovetail case which is the "newer" style of william and mary. And although the primary wood is sweet gum, those 2 front panels are mahogany.

[mart]

Darn,, I was way off !! 

[jacon4]

wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyy offffffffffffffffff fffffffffffffff, this is what happens when you get old! BAM!

Anytime you see that frame panel thingy, you know it's early, that is how joiners showed off their woodworking skill. As time went along in the 17th century, it became more elaborate, look at those panels on the bird chest for example, that's a hell of a lot of mitering and difficult to do well.