Eastlake

Charles Locke Eastlake was a 19th century English architect and designer.

His seminal and influential book Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery and Other Details led to the ‘Eastlake Movement’ in the United States where this style furniture was mass produced for the middle-class. It even became a style in architecture, most notably in San Francisco, where dozens of Eastlake-inspired ‘painted ladies’ are still enjoyed by tourists.

Because the furniture made in this style was quite sturdy, even after 140 years it remains fairly common; there are almost endless versions. Some pieces are quite coarse but most are competent. Some, like the graceful table shown above that I found at a garage sale ($25!) are very fine. The top of this example was stained (and had split), but those flaws were easily repaired and it now graces the bay window of Flippist World Headquarters. Made of walnut with burl veneer accents it made for an elegant addition to my domicile:

A little classier than this old library table (which does have charms of its own):

Eastlake Pediments

More old wood from my disassembled Victorian fainting couch…

Pediments in furniture refer to a decorative element (crown) on top of a piece, similar in style to an architectual pediment topping a classical building.

I’ve re-purposed three of these, incorporating them into exisiting furniture I already had.

While my long-term judgement on their suitability remains to be seen, I enjoy the simple-yet-artful grace notes added onto these hand-crafted pieces from over 120 years ago:

Nice Things Not Made Anymore

Door knob and plate, Minneapolis Court House, Circa 1888:

Milwaukee transit passes (1945-1966):

Harley-Davidson Dealer sign, circa 1935:

Upholstery for 1917 Ford Model T sedan door:

Eastlake furniture design elements, circa 1885:

Old Wood

I recently acquired some “old wood.” It was the backboard of a Victorian fainting couch. The couch itself had been destroyed and disposed of but much of the frame remained. These were secondary woods (possibly alder) and had been hidden by the upholstery. The patent notice on one of the boards (above) was for January 23d, 1877, meaning that the wood had most likely been taken from a tree that was planted around 1800! The board was still sound; I repurposed it into a shelf for my woodworking tools:

Of course, this wood isn’t really rare, I live in a house that is mostly made from wood of that era. Still, I find it rewarding that old wood can find a new use after one hundred fifty years. The other boards in the fainting couch that weren’t covered with upholstery were walnut, inscribed in the Eastlake-style. I’ll be posting more about that old wood in the coming days.