Mahogany Preserves

Inside this Issue

Safe Deposit Box
An interesting look at one craftsman’s solution to hiding valuables at home.

Inflation
Ever wonder what kind of investment quality furnishings an be? You won’t believe this!

Dry Weather Blues
Watch the humidity in your home or next spring you’ll be blue while I’ll be seeing green $!

Safe Deposit Box

One of the most interesting pieces of furniture I have ever restored was an old desk made around 1870. It had been built of plain white oak most likely by an individual for his own use. There were no fancy feet, no ornamentation, and no complicated construction. It was quite simply a desk built by an unknown person who made no attempt to impress any person or group with frills or finish.

It suffered terribly in both design and technique and will never find its way into any museum or show. It looked like a box with legs, and a very ugly box at that.

What it did, however, was win my heart.

Behind the drawers on both sides of the knee holes were two identical secret compartments that could be accessed through two hinged boards in the back of the desk. These were designed so that valuables could be pushed through but could not be removed except by removing the desk top. This was done by removing 18 screws of various sizes that were discretely hidden underneath the top and took half an hour to locate and remove.

Valuables dropped into the slots would fall into a sealed cavity located behind the drawers--a very secure piggy bank. By the way, both of these compartments were empty, just in case you were wondering.

Inflation

In 1876, Gould and Company, Philadelphia, placed the following ad in a Philadelphia newspaper:

"This solid walnut, centennial, Italian marble top chamber suit, three pieces, viz: Double Bedstead, Marble Top Bureau, and Marble Top Washstand, $47."

Watch the Heat!!

In our climate, winter is a very real enemy to our wood furniture. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning that it is capable of gaining or losing moisture from and into the air. This action causes table tops to warp and split and glue joints to be weakened. In severe cases, veneer can loosen from the substrate and inlay can fall out. Wood stoves and gas heating are especially harmful to your furniture because both produce dry heat. Air conditioning can create the same effect to a lesser extent. A small humidifier works well in your home in both summer and winter.

Services

Call us today for all custom designed cabinetry and furniture, antique restoration and refinishing, and custom finishes.

Also:

Cabinet Refacing

Antique Evaluation

Documentation for insurance claims or estate planning.

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