Measured Drawings of 18th Century American Furniture [Paperback]

Ejner Handberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 1993

Large scale plans for 54 fine pieces including cherry desk, tall clock, and gate leg table.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A carefully detailed guide to fine eighteenth century American furniture

"In this the last work of Ejner Handberg, you'll find primarily non-urban examples of New England furniture. These pieces are typical of what prosperous citizens of a budding new nation had in their homes far from the din of city life. As in his previous books on Shaker furniture, Ejner has undertaken the exacting task of making measured drawings to enable you to make accurate reproductions. It's up to you to do the rest." -From the foreword by Paul Kleinwald

In addition to his lifelong appreciation of Shaker furniture and artifacts, Ejner Handberg devoted much study to American furniture of the eighteenth century. His book of detailed drawings of beautiful New England pieces is a companion to this famous Measured Drawings of Shaker Furniture and Woodenware. Newly reprinted and supplemented by a foreword by Paul Kleinwald, this book is of enduring interest to furniture makers, antiques lovers, libraries, and museums.

Measured Drawings of Eighteenth Century American Furniture and Woodenware

This book includes careful advice on the selection and drying of wood and provides accurate scale drawings of such pieces as:

Mahogany Tall Case Clock

Cherry Slant-Front Desk

Cherry Lowboy Butterfly Table

Dresser and Mirror

Tambour Desk Windsor Chair with Writing Arm

Cherry Tip-top Table

Pine Chest Cherry Bonnet Top Highboy

Cherry Chest

Maple Candlestand Continuous Arm Windsor Chair

Cherry Desk and Bookcase

Gate-leg Dining Table Cherry Chest on Chest

Chest with Two Drawers Below

Maple Highboy Cherry Chest of Drawers

Ejner Handberg (1902-1985) was born in Denmark, emigrated to America, and for many years was a cabinetmaker in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where he helped design and build Norman Rockwell's studio.

Paul Kleinwald is a highly regarded restorer of antiques. He and his wife, Susan, are dealers in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, specializing in American and European furnishings of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 67 pages
• Publisher: Berkshire House Publishers (January 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936399465
• ISBN-13: 978-0936399461
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,484,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for the beginning woodworker, September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Measured Drawings of 18th Century American Furniture (Paperback)

This book offers drawings of some beautifully proportioned furniture pieces, including chests of drawers, highboys, lowboys, desks, a clock, tilt-top tables and windsor chairs. The author/editor give no guidance for cutting, joining or assembling the pieces. Judging from this and the lack of detailed templates for scroll work, and from the sometimes incomplete measurements, it was not compiled with the beginning woodworker in mind.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Furniture - But Incomplete Measurements, August 25, 2005

By 

CPHope (West Bloomfield, MI United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Measured Drawings of 18th Century American Furniture (Paperback)

The title "Measured Drawings of 18th Century American Furniture" is a little misleading. While the book does include some very nice examples of American Furniture, I would take issue with the "Measured Drawings" part of the title. The drawings provide enough measurements to give the proportions of the furniture pieces, but do not provide enough detail to accurately recreate the furniture. Many times, even the details of the construction/assembly are lacking. Therefore, this book will provide ideas and proportions for an advanced woodworker to create furniture without a plan, but is probably not for a persons starting in woodworking.

I think this book is excellent for ideas, but don't buy it expecting it to layout how to make the furniture, or provide detailed measurements of each piece. I would rate the usefulness of this book for providing ideas, about the same as the trips I make to different museums to view their furniture collection, get ideas for creating new furniture pieces, and get an idea of the right proportions/measurements.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As stated not for the beginner, August 30, 2007

By 

K. Riley (Waldorf MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Measured Drawings of 18th Century American Furniture (Paperback)

This is a fine book for the more advanced furniture builder.
If you no longer have to ask yourself "how" then you are ready for this series of books.
If you know the how then all you need are the measurements and diagrams in the book.
If you are at or close to that point in your furniture building endeavors and wish to build elegant period pieces then by all means get this book.
If you are not at that stage yet buy it anyway and put it in your reference library. Because if you stick with it you will get there.