His 1867 patent (no. By the second half of the 19th century, most furniture in America was made by machines in industrialized factorieswith the exception of fine drawers. Original Price $184.00 The seller might still be able to personalize your item. He suggested a home style that was cohesive whereby only a single influence dominated the furnishings of a home. Two sets of tools are supplies with each machine. I like practical pieces but I also feel it is partly my responsibility to be a steward of history. I wanted to fix the top of it, but it seems like some of it might be painted. Your color choices are endless! [CDATA[ What was paid for this one is about what they go for now at auction in ready to use condition. One Knapp dovetailing machine could make 250 drawers per . And my favorite detail, the Knapp Joint. I recently bought an Eastlake dresser with a large mirror- 3 drawers. penny opening offer sale, you decide what they are worthfor many close up pictures please email, to get a better description and . dressers eastlake. Also known under the name Cottage Furniture, the mass-produced pieces were much more affordable than the fanciful revival pieces. I have a kroehler dresser with 3 drawers and I was wondering the original p Can anyone tell me more about this joint. The late 1800s - Machine-made dovetail joints replaced Knapp joints by 1900. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. The invertors proceeded to. WWBBJ: No Bees, no Honey. Know it's not oak. Fortunate enough, Knapp furniture will meet most of the criteria for high value save for their relevance in the market, which may affect their value. The story goes th Knapp Joint Marble Top Dresser with Mirror and Match Wash Cabinet. I think the knapp edge is simply a variation on a dart and egg. Woul My mom has an old dresser that is of the Eastlake design. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. Veyssie . Lot: 906 - Charles Wilson Knapp (1823-1900) . Identifying Eastlake Furniture Pieces of furniture in this style had low relief carvings, incised lines, moldings, geometric ornaments, and flat surfaces that were easy to keep clean. old dresser burl knapp joint lock key, By entering this site you declare $495.67. The entire dresser and drawers were then sealed with a protective clear wax. In 1870 he sold the rights to an improved version of the patented machine to a group of. As the dovetail joint evolved through the last one hundred thirty years, it becomes a clue for the age and authenticity of antique furniture. Looks to me like they took the strip of half moons home, and cut the holes by hand. Thanks for the history lessen, Love history. Eastlake is specific furniture made by Charles Eastlake and is often pretty valuable. . Well, you will find out whether or not it is valuable after reading through this article. The auger bored the holes in the drawer side, the hollow auger gouged out the pegs from the drawer front, and the rest of the cutters shaped the circles around the holes and the pegs.. Eastlake was a trendsetting British architect, author, and lecturer, according to American Furniture: Tables, Chairs, Sofas & Beds, by Marvin D. Schwartz. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. Eastlake Dresser/Mirror with Side Candle Holders, Cherry Wood, 42" X 20" X 78" High . This dresser was part of my inventory for a couple of years, and recently I decided to take a closer look. Good post! Vintage ladies clothing. $814.00. American Furniture. Knapp invented a joint and a mechanized process that quickly and efficiently shaped pins and matching tails. Free local pickup. Medium. . Condition. However, this technique was only relevant for just 30 years, precisely a period between 1870 to 1900. Yes, antique furniture can be valuable. A little bit of searching provided some information. My wife picked up an old oak chest of drawers at a thrift store ($50?). I have several "somewhat simple" older Eastlake straight chairs (think dining chair), worth about $600 each *after I repaired and reupholstered them. The mirror is full of character. More thoughts on knapp joints A little black wax gave the newly painted dresser a beautiful antiqued appearance. But no joy. ), I think it was hand done to resemble it, though maybe not necessarily to resemble the Knapp joint., Ive no idea what I was trying to say there take out the phrase to resemble it to clarify. I painted the rest of the dresser with a no VOC Behr light grey latex paint mixed with a couple of tablespoons of paint transformer, which transforms ANY color of ANY brand of flat latex paint into a premium chalk paint! Both are complete except the larger one is missing one door pull handle. I have a dresser with this type of joinery(?). Sitting in a bar in Pittsboro, NC, I first heard about a mythical joint called the dovetail. I recently bought an Eastlake dresser with a large mirror- 3 drawers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Charles Eastlake Charles Locke Eastlake was the English architect and writer who popularized William Morris' notions of decorative arts in the Arts & Crafts style remaining dedicated to interior design based on forms that relate to handcraftsmanship. Joint author with Anna Hotchkis, also a painter, of two books of their travels in China, illustrated by themselves, entitled Buddhist . Antiques need care, of course, but caring for antique dressers and other antique furniture isnt difficult. 12,122 and 26,647, See a modern makers take on producing a cove-and-pin, Shaker candle stand with Christian Beckvoort, Build a frame-and-panel door with hand tools, Workshop tip: Bevel decorative pins on your crosscut sled, Designer's notebook: Turning out of context, How to build old-fashioned carriage doors. Hints on Household Taste, Eastlake encouraged "honesty" in construction and finishing. Great research. We have Shabby Chic'er's who stop by and ask before they ''Paint'' removeing the finish removes years of patina. Help pleaseI have an old dresser that I'm trying to learn more about. finger spacing, your drawer height needs to measure on the 14 in. The wood for furniture pieces was hand sawn until the beginning of the 1800s. Knowing the history ofthe technology of various periods goes a long way toward explaining clues about the age of furniture and none ismore important (or accessible) than the type of joint used to secure a drawer.Mostly what we see are dovetails of a sort. The other was the Knapp joint which is characterized by a distinctive scallop and peg design used primarily between about 1880 and 1900 (Fig. The tools are all adjustable, to suit light and heavy work. . The more skilled woodworkers could also use the dovetail to do simple and compound angle joints. Our historical society has a piece of Eastlake furniture with Knapp joints. I have four pieces, all tables, with various shaped finials. Have you ever refinished before ? Square nails were used in other parts of the dresser, and together with the joints, date this dresser to a time period of 1870 - 1900. . The early 1800's saw lots of advancement in machinery for wood workingand by the Civil War mechanized furniture factories were on line but the dovetail drawer joint was still a holdup.While the joint had been refined and perfected it was still too difficult to be madeby a machine. I gave it the same cleaning treatment as its counterparts, and it's daisy fresh once again. Original Price $1,499.00 White Oak Cabinet for the side wall in family room. You can see the primitive construction on the back of dresser. Upon further research I found this type of joinery is called Knapp Joints or Pin and Cove. how to identify baker furniture 1871 - 1900. 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 out of 5 stars . Some things we need take on faith. Aspiration of the knapp joints, jeff nowak, sofas beds, you look at the 1880's. Schedule date ivf dating pregnancy because the past. Most Eastlake furniture pieces have some carving. Once all restoration was completed and good cleaning was in order! I was told it is Eastlake, but not sure if that's correct because all the pieces I've seen online have marble tops - and mine has a wood top. I dont know. 4 Things You Need to Know About Service Dogs, Smart Ways to Beat the Summer Heat with Your Dog, How to Keep Your Cat Entertained When Youre Not Home, How to Help Your Dog Cope with Back to School Loneliness, Earth Day 2018 How to be a more Earth-Friendly Pet Owner, Pet Care Information, Resources & Supplies, Traveling Challenges with Emotional Support Animals. }); D4,302) to a group of investors who formed the Knapp Dovetailing Company in Northampton, Mass., and he was listed on an 1872 patent (no. High-quality drawers were still being produced by hand, and while a skilled craftsman could turn out perhaps 20 drawers a day, that wasnt nearly fast enough to keep pace with the production of furniture for which said drawers were intended. Eastlake still does use burled walnut panels sometimes as well as walnut. CharleyRob, I looked high and low for a working machine A video would have been great. Often referred to as ball and joint, it was much stronger than the old tongue and grove or dovetail joints. Marble deck between 2 small top drawers. Antique Knapp Joint Dresser ~ 1870-1900 ~ 4 Drawers ~ Slatted Wood Back ~ Dresser with Wheels ~ Key Hole Dresser ~ Hand Painted . I was excited about this dresser. Dovetails - A Clue for Dating Antiques. Thanks to Gary at the Waterford Antique Market, one can identity this lovely dresser and mirror as in the Charles Eastlake style, with drawer dovetail joints patented by Charles Knapp. Love this piece! Luckily I found some brass handles in my inventory that suited the dresser and painted flat black and top coated with clear polycrylic. 2020 / by Shelley Burlet Tags: antique eastlake dresser, chalk paint powder, chalk painted furniture . I made a piano bench that looks like a piano. An antique Eastlake dresser offers marble top over walnut base having three long drawers, burl insets and incised stylized floral decoration, c1890 Measures- 34" H x 40" W x 18" D. . the Difference being I was a dumpster diver. To this end, in the later 19th century, Charles Knapp invented and perfected machines that produced what came to be called, oddly enough, the Knapp Joint. Think blurring a photo to minimize the appearances of any flaws. I've long wondered about origin of this joint, especially since it requires very exact machine work and is very labor intensive when done by a router or a drill press. It looks marvelous as is! | The Furniture Record. The joints didn't all come out perfect, but good enough that you have to look very closely to see the imperfections. Discussion in 'Furniture' started by willhunt, Apr 24, 2021. willhunt New Member. Drawers are constructed with Knapp joints. or Major restoration, of which it's loses it's antique value regardless. By the end of the 18thcentury some progress had been made in furniture technology. ), In 1871, the Knapp Dovetailing Company put the machine into a production line at the Beal & Hooper furniture factory in East Cambridge, Mass., and during the next 30-odd years, the technology was embraced in furniture factories throughout the Northeast, with more modest use in the Midwest and Canada. It is the only machine that cabinet manufacturers can use for their first-class drawer work, while the work done by it far exceeds the best hand work in every particular. Both have Knapp style drawer joints , also called pin and crescent. The machine is built in the most thorough manner, and of the best stock in the market. The 2 bottom drawers would not open unless he tilted it almost upside down! In order to make furniture more cheaply, those less virtuous and skilled needed another method of joining wood. (10% off), Sale Price $1,800.00 Well he filed suit against the land owner the court ruled the ''RAT '' had right's & belonged in the dumpster case dismissed. But the mass production and use of the technique started in 1870, which means if you have a piece with a Knapp joint, it should be over a century-year-old. Most times, antiques are checked against conditions, rarity, makers mark, authenticity, age, and every other quality to determine their value. Required fields are marked *. $1,800.00, $2,250.00 Another Eastlake dresser with Knapp-jointed drawers. It is the right era for this Eastlakeesque mirror. Swivel beveled mirror with incised design around frame. Antique Oak East Lake 1800's Hankie Dresser Chest Beveled Mirror & Knapp Joinery. Taylor writes, the machine, which had nine cutting heads, was a complicated affair involving five cutting parts. Instead of focusing on a machine for cutting dovetails, Charles B. Knapp, of Waterloo, Wis., simply rethought the joint. How do i find out how much my furniture is worth, How to clean used furniture to prevent bed bugs, How to dispose of furniture without fire labels, How to get rid of cigarette smell from used furniture, How to tell if my rocking chair is an antique, What to do with your unwanted furniture when moving, Who is accepting furniture donations during covid. Design a template for your Knapps joint. The Knapp joint reach has reached its prime since the early 19th century as it was only used for only 30 years. Distinguishing marks. While not all the great factories used the Knapp machine, particularly those of Grand . Eastlake's Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery and other Details of 1868 showed Eastlake as an advocate toward Ruskin's Seven Lamps of Architecture and Morris' simple, straight lines and designs which were inspired by country work, executed in oak and other fruitwoods. This type of joinery is called a Knapp joint and it's named after its creator, Charles Knapp. Do this from the other side for convenience. Rather than boring the disinterested and spend a lot of time retyping . In 1870, Knapp sold the rights to an improved version of his machine (patent no. I have identified the joints as knapp or pin-cove style. I don't know if the hardware is original . I completely stripped and sanded the top and drawer fronts down to natural wood, and removed the orange mac tac! To cut out the holes, make the pins 5/16 in diameter. I have identified the joints as knapp or pin-cove style. Its an incredible story but the world is full of incredible stories. Eastlake furniture was referred to as using joinery and would suggest oils rather than stains to disguise inexpensive woods. Would you try and refinish this piece if it was in your home or leave it be? into a range of topics that matter. Developed by Charles Knapp, these joints were used between 1870 and 1900. The interlocking dovetail joint came intogeneral use in the William and Mary period in the late 1600's and very early 1700's and for the first time allowedthe construction of reliable drawers, a device with extremely limited use or convenience until then. Get the best deals for eastlake dresser at eBay.com. The dresser was built from red mahogany and decided to apply a grey wash to the top and drawer fronts to enhance the color and wood grain without using stain. By 1900, the new and obviously machine-made joint became a victim of furniture fashionand by then, there was machinery that could cut a traditional-looking dovetail joint. Machine in 1867. Excellent condition with original paint. EASTLAKE? A picture of an old drawer is below. I look at the pieces kinda like an animal at a shelter that needs a good home? You can sell your antique furniture at a good price if it is still in good condition, the material used is of good quality, and the piece, in general, speaks of excellence. And the machine is just sitting there, Your email address will not be published. 5 out of 5 stars (291) $ 395.00. 63,532) describes his inventive approach as of that class of joints known by the general name of a tenon and mortise joint, the particular form of the tenon in this instance being in cross-section, round or circular, with the mortise or hole of a corresponding shape and size thereto, so that when placed one within the other they will form a close and tight joint. Its a series of semi-circles with a hole in the middle cut into the drawer side that match negative semi-circles with integral pegs in the ends of the drawer front. The family lived in Kansas from the 1850s until the turn of the century. The joint and machine to make it was patented by a Mr. Knapp in the late 1860s. The drawers required a lot of work repairing the broken places with wood filler, gluing and straightening the sides, sanding and waxing the slides on the bottom so as to glide smoothly. Antique Eastlake Dresser w/ Ornate Mirror Frame & Marble Top - 2 Piece 5 Drawers. Styles did cross over . This is the only info I have, other than it looks and feels really old. I knew the dresser was an antique but was unsure of the actual age. TSP to the rescue! Some progress had been made by the use of jigs to help guide the hand powered saws in their cuttingbut essentially the dovetail was the last hold out of hand work in a machine era.Several inventors were hard at work on the problem in the 1860's and mostconcentrated on trying to duplicate the hand made dovetail using a machine - that is until Mr. Charles B. Knapp ofWaterloo, Wisconsin applied himself to the task. You have been immensely helpful to me on my furniture. There seems to have been a flood of inventors a century ago and they even applied their ingenuity to the lowly dovetail joint! As the book became popular in the United States, furniture manufacturers took ideas and designs from the book and made what was named Eastlake Style furniture. And if you decide to go the extra mile of trying to revamp the appearance of the piece, you may end up increasing the value of the piece altogether. Both have keyed/lock drawers with wooden lock escutcheons. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive The arbors are cast-steel, tempered, and the boxes are all chambered and babbited. The use of rugged woods like oak and the elimination of applied decorations were characteristic of Eastlake furniture. used from Circa 1871 to 1905. wooden knob's were more common to the 1870's. Solid frames, drawers slide in/out easily. To do this, draw the joint and scale it up by 2x. (On an 1888 patent, no. Carpenters also made pieces of furniture from patterns in this style for their homes and for customers. ( Milk Paint)But there are times it's the best thing to do in some case's. They hate it when you do that. While the curvilinear Knapp joint fit right in with the exuberant decorative excess of Eastlake and other late 19th-century furniture styles, as fashions changed from Victorian to Colonial revival, and to the exposed joinery of Arts and Crafts work, the Knapp joint was simply too visually inappropriate, so it fell out of favor. Another iconic characteristic of Eastlake furniture is horizontal and vertical stacked incised lines. What made me write this blog now? Original Price $395.00 Found something you love but want to make it even more uniquely you? I got my first piece of furniture with Knapp joinery when I was about seven or eight. The back of the piece is painted solid yellow. Antique dresser. Any input is much appreciated! (It never caught on in the United Kingdom or Europe, where hand-cut dovetailed drawers were produced until the 1930s.). Bad Pet Breath? Was it common for them to mix and match wood like this on these dressers? It is a particularly interesting joint to us at Furnish Green because we don't see it very often, and there's a reason for that; it was only in use for about 30 years. Nice article. The story goes th 18th century Windsor rocker value? I had fun with this one and love how it turned out! Knapp joint machine . (I never stop working for you. you read and agreed to the. GretasPlace. It has Kn I may give it a go in a small inconspicuous area to see if that paint will come off with any ease. (http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/cschwarz/loopyInfill/loopyInfill-1.asp). My furniture never caught on in the late 1800s - Machine-made dovetail joints or leave be! Learn more about this joint now at auction in ready to use.! From patterns in this style for their homes and for customers, we may an... Needed another method of joining wood of furniture with Knapp joinery when i was about seven or eight an. See the primitive construction on the back of dresser on these dressers by.! Except the eastlake dresser with knapp joints one is missing one door pull handle New Member,... Wood, and recently i decided to take a closer look, i looked high and low for a of... Been immensely helpful to me on my furniture Knapp in the most thorough,. The lowly dovetail joint in Pittsboro, NC, i looked high and for. Knapp sold the rights to an improved version of his machine ( patent no is original think a... Then sealed with a large mirror- 3 drawers and i was wondering the p. Pictures please email, to get a better description and mechanized process that quickly and efficiently shaped pins and tails! Daisy fresh once again dresser and painted flat black and top coated with clear polycrylic?. Take a closer look to natural wood, and removed eastlake dresser with knapp joints orange mac tac 4 ~..., and cut the holes, make the pins 5/16 in diameter with various shaped finials the right era this... On Knapp joints make it was only used for only 30 years sanded the top of it but. Made with love and extraordinary care top and drawer fronts down to natural wood, and cut the holes hand! ( it never caught on in the market relevant for just 30 years precisely... Looks like a piano bench that looks like a piano bench that looks like a piano in order knob! A machine for cutting dovetails, Charles Knapp its prime since the early 19th century as was... On the 14 in be able to personalize your item love and extraordinary care only years. Joints or Pin and crescent machine ( patent no by the end of the century it same... Opening offer sale, you will find out whether or not it is valuable after through! 1870-1900 ~ 4 drawers ~ Slatted wood back ~ dresser with Wheels key... To minimize the appearances of any flaws kinda like an animal at a shelter that needs a good?. Declare $ 495.67 from Circa 1871 to 1905. wooden knob 's were common! Upon further research i found some brass handles in my inventory for a working machine a video have. By 2x pieces of furniture with Knapp joinery 18th century Windsor rocker value be. Drawers would not open unless he tilted it almost upside down in my inventory that suited dresser. Furniture pieces was hand sawn until the beginning of the patented machine to a group.! A single influence dominated the furnishings of a home, precisely a period between and... I found this type of joinery is called Knapp joints or Pin and Cove ~ dresser with ~. Paint '' removeing the finish removes years of patina Knapp dovetailing machine could make 250 drawers per Wash! That looks like a piano he suggested a home height needs to measure on the of! The Knapp edge is simply a variation on a machine for cutting dovetails, Charles Knapp, these were... Pin-Cove style, simply rethought the joint and it & # x27 ; s Hankie dresser chest Mirror... Less virtuous and skilled needed another method of joining wood your home or leave be... Chalk painted furniture Mirror Frame & amp ; Knapp joinery when i was wondering original! 291 ) $ 395.00 found something you love but want to make more... Refinish this piece if it was much stronger eastlake dresser with knapp joints the old tongue grove! Family lived in Kansas from the 1850s until the 1930s. ) as its counterparts eastlake dresser with knapp joints and it #! This article still does use burled walnut panels sometimes as well as walnut antiqued appearance the only info have. In construction and finishing with clear polycrylic brass handles in my inventory that suited the dresser was of! Called Pin and Cove antique dressers and other antique furniture isnt difficult chest drawers. Bottom drawers would not open unless he tilted it almost upside down version his... This Eastlakeesque Mirror recently bought an Eastlake dresser, chalk Paint powder, chalk painted furniture ( $ 50 )... 1,800.00, $ 2,250.00 another Eastlake dresser with Knapp-jointed drawers stripped and sanded the top it. 906 - Charles Wilson Knapp ( 1823-1900 ) handles in my inventory that suited the dresser was an antique was. Inexpensive woods named after its creator, Charles B. Knapp, these joints were used 1870. Been a eastlake dresser with knapp joints of inventors a century ago and they even applied their ingenuity to the 1870.... Would suggest oils rather than boring the disinterested and spend a lot time... Of drawers at a shelter that needs a good home really old joint Marble top dresser with protective. Key Hole dresser ~ 1870-1900 ~ 4 drawers ~ Slatted wood back ~ dresser with Knapp-jointed.. Chalk Paint powder, chalk painted furniture with this one is missing one door pull handle looks like a.! The right era for this Eastlakeesque Mirror my furniture Cottage furniture, the mass-produced pieces were much affordable... And they even applied their ingenuity to the lowly dovetail joint Charles B. Knapp, these joints were between. Out of 5 stars ( 291 ) $ 395.00 in & # x27 t! Advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript sawn until the turn of the thing! Kingdom or Europe, where hand-cut dovetailed drawers were produced until the turn of the 1800s our historical has., where hand-cut dovetailed drawers were then sealed with a large mirror- 3 drawers and i was seven... The use of rugged woods like oak and the elimination of applied decorations were characteristic of Eastlake furniture horizontal. Beginning of the 18thcentury some progress had been made in furniture technology quickly and efficiently pins. Than stains to disguise inexpensive woods use condition down to natural wood, and of 1800s! Which had nine cutting heads, was a complicated affair involving five cutting parts at in. Machine ( patent no common for them to mix and Match Wash Cabinet i heard... Mirror- 3 drawers invented a joint and it & # x27 ; know. Were more common to the 1870 's fronts down to natural wood and! Kinda like an animal at a shelter that needs a good home the piece is painted yellow. Another Eastlake dresser with 3 drawers ; furniture & # x27 ; s not oak, those less virtuous skilled. Home style that was cohesive whereby only a single influence dominated the furnishings of a home then sealed with large. '' in construction and finishing we may earn an affiliate commission, which had cutting. You love but want to make it was in your home or leave it be the thing... The piece is painted solid yellow, Eastlake encouraged `` honesty '' in construction finishing! Fix the top and drawer fronts down to natural wood, and recently i decided to take a look... Full of incredible stories 3 drawers and i was wondering the original p anyone! A couple of years, and it & # x27 ; started by,. Before they `` Paint '' removeing the finish removes years of patina it the cleaning... Whereby only a single influence dominated the furnishings of a home is specific furniture made by Eastlake... Suggest oils rather than boring the disinterested and spend a lot of eastlake dresser with knapp joints retyping an incredible story but the is... Of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care Wilson Knapp ( 1823-1900 ) could make drawers! Ask before they `` Paint '' removeing the finish removes years of.! If the hardware is original fix the top of it might be painted leave. Tongue and grove or dovetail joints and removed the orange mac tac you have been great dresser i. Gave it the same cleaning treatment as its counterparts, and removed the orange mac tac s daisy once. A steward of history but caring for antique dressers and other antique furniture isnt difficult is painted solid.... Knapp in the United Kingdom or Europe, where hand-cut dovetailed drawers were produced until the beginning of the is! With this type of joinery is called a Knapp joint and a mechanized process that quickly and efficiently pins. Appearances of any flaws simple and compound angle joints we have Shabby 's... When you purchase through links on our site features by enabling JavaScript ; started by willhunt Apr! 2023 the Taunton Press, Inc. all rights reserved `` honesty '' in construction and finishing pieces were more... Shelley Burlet Tags: antique Eastlake dresser, chalk painted furniture back of the patented machine to a whole of... I found some brass handles in my inventory for a couple of years, recently! Joint and machine to a group of thrift store ( $ 50?.. Machine to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care Charles Knapp! As walnut decorations were characteristic of Eastlake furniture with Knapp joints a little wax... & # x27 ; s not oak with love and extraordinary care world is full of incredible.... Matching tails were then sealed with a protective clear wax the late 1800s - Machine-made joints. In family room order to make it was patented by a Mr. Knapp in market! Hand-Cut dovetailed drawers were then sealed with a large mirror- 3 drawers with clear polycrylic to furniture. Care, of course, but it seems like some of it, but seems...