Note: This is a classic reprint of a book review from NEWS #011, June 1993.
Watson, Aldren, A. Country Furniture
New American Library. New York and Scarborough. Ontario. 1976.
This study of traditional American country furniture has strong visual appeal. The drawings are nicely executed and the inclusion of extracts from historical sources generates a nostalgic feel. The text attempts to analyse these sources and the drawings provide interpretative reconstructions of old techniques. For anyone with even a vague interest in the past the book would be attractive.
The historical extracts and the bibliography make this text a useful addition to the library of anyone with a serious interest in historic woodworking. Unfortunately the interpretative dialogue and drawings are to a large extent misleading or simply incorrect.
The author, despite his graphic skills, essentially has no knowledge of woodworking technology. His conjectural methods are absurdities despite his extensive reference to contemporary sources. This is a pity as some chapters are well written and the extracts are well selected. When the author attempts to recreate techniques he is simply totally off target.
Most of the terminology is incorrect. Tools are mis-drawn, mechanical impossibilities abound and jumbled names are common. Joiner for jointer plane, ploughs called fillisters, beads called "thumb nail' mouldings. Anachronisms are common with modern tools shown alongside pre-industrial tools.
Fantasies of recreation are plentiful. Files are shown being used to trim mouldings, finish tenons, pare dovetail pins, even to clean up fielded panels or to fit mitred clamps. The vast majority of these reconstructions are impractical, many are absurd.
The danger in this book is in non technical readers using it as a "source”. Such books, due to the drawings, are too often taken up by academics and gain reference status. Some amateur wood workers may even try the techniques and quickly give up in frustration.
Groups such as TTTG should record and disseminate authentic methods to counter this type of folksy folly.