At Masterpiece Woodcrafters of Elgin,
Texas, I have created a unique line of woodcrafts and antique
reproductions that are individually handcrafted utilizing construction
methods common in the 18th and 19th centuries. All of my items are
solid wood, and are assembled using pegs and glue or dovetail joinery,
with no nails used in the construction. Each piece is
individually finished and hand polished, and the hardware is period
correct.
Many of my pieces are adorned with
punchwork, based primarily on original quilting patterns from the 18th
and 19th centuries. Each design is painstakingly punched by hand,
using an awl and rawhide mallet that belonged to my great-grandfather
who was also a woodcrafter.
I make a wide variety of items, from small
boxes to large furniture pieces. I have made boxes as small as 3
inches square to large entertainment centers standing 5 feet tall and 4
feet wide. In between I have made sewing and thread storage
boxes, business card boxes, jewelry boxes, cedar-lined chests of all
sizes and styles, portable desks, beds and a wide variety of tables.
I work with many different types of woods, and regularly custom
make pieces to order.
I began making these reproductions in order
to create a more accurate impression for the 18th and 19th century
living history events that I attend with my wife and family. Many
of my pieces were inspired by originals that we have seen in museums
and antique stores across the United States. The Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department purchased several of my pieces earlier this year
for use in their living history demonstrations at state parks and
museums. They can also be seen at Civil War reenactments across
the country and at Texas history reenactments as well.
Although I do not regularly enter
competitions, I won First Place in the Woodworking division and Best of
Show at the Elgin Western Days Country Fair in 2002.
My work is currently available direct or
from several retail outlets, including The Regimental Quartermaster in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, W.W. Treenware in Elgin and Frazer Brothers
in Dallas. Whether you are looking for a special accent piece for
your home, want to enhance your living history impression or are
looking for that perfect, on-of-a-kind gift, I urge you to keep us in
mind.
