200 Year Old Desk

sawhorseray · Post by **sawhorseray** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 20:23

Imagine the genius and craftsmanship it took to make this 200 years ago with no power tools.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MKikHxKeodA?rel=0

ssorllih · Post by **ssorllih** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 21:30

All of the crafts were engaged to build that. There is just a brief glimpse of a gear and a brass cylinder. If you pause right there you can see that it is a music box mechanism. I marvel that they were able to slice veneers back then. The metal work is gunsmith and silversmith quality. Someone also had to fashion the tools for the craftsmen. Thanks Ray.

Post by **Butterbean** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 22:24

I used to hobby with furniture building but after seeing that I'm not so sure what I made was furniture. Amazing.

ssorllih · Post by **ssorllih** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 01:30

Just making a matched pair of the interior drawers would be an accomplishment. But the veneer work on the front is completely beyond me knowledge.

Chuckwagon · Post by **Chuckwagon** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 05:28

The self-deploying easel just blew me away! How many minds did it take to create this priceless antique? It is a work of genius. Incredible! Thanks for sharing Ray.

ursula · Post by **ursula** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 06:20

That is simply extraordinary.
Ursula

ssorllih · Post by **ssorllih** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 13:37

I am sure that individually all of those mechanisms had been used in other cabinets and boxes but to incorporate them all so perfectly into one perfectly finished assembly for a personal secretary is the marvel.