Take a good look at the photo to the left. The chest in that picture was built in the late 1700′s, most likely in New England. It’s made of mahogany, and the detailed claw feet and wide brass plate fixtures are sure indicators of the chest’s Boston roots. If I could open the drawers of this antique, I would probably find solid pine or cedar secondary wood (the wood that makes the inside of the drawers) and also discover dovetail joints joining the drawer boards together.
I know all of this not because I read the placard next to this wonderful example of antique cabinetry, but instead because I’m a fan of PBS’ Antiques Roadshow.
At first, I didn’t like watching Roadshow at all. While I enjoyed the history behind the objects presented, READ MORE »






