Major Comissions

MAJOR HISTORICAL COMISSIONS

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, Boston, Massachusetts Recreation of a precise copy of the original presidential desk used by John Fitzgerald Kennedy as President of the United States of America. Three days were spent in the Oval Office of the White House, photographing, patterning, and taking rubbings of the multiple carvings, including the presidential eagle with the hand-carved presidential shield which were an integral part of the desk.

The desk now resides at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. It is installed on a twenty foot dias in the center of an eighty foot diameter room in the very heart of the building. The library is open for public viewing.

The history of the desk goes back to 1845, when a contingent of ships was sent from England to find a northwest sailing route. One of the ships, The Resolute,
became entombed in ice and was lost for ten years. In 1855, this ship was found floating free, commandeered by an American whaler, brought back to Boston harbor, purchased by the United States government, and returned to England as a gesture of good will. When The Resolute was decommissioned by Queen Victoria, she had a desk hand-crafted from the oak timbers of the ship and presented it to the United States as a reciprocal gesture of good-will. The desk, which was given to the Rutherford B. Hayes administration, was subsequently relegated to the cellar of the Smithsonian Institute. It was discovered there by Jacqueline Kennedy who ordered it refurbished and installed in John kennedy's office as a symbol of his respect for our historical past.

The Hermitage, National Museum of U.S.S.R., Leningrad

The design and creation of a presentation chest and a game-playing board to accommodate a chess set. These were a gift from the people of the United States of America to the people of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, presented by President Richard M. Nixon.

The chest was made from highly-figured curly American black walnut wood and the board was made from the same wood plus curly maple for the contrasting squares. The challenge in designing the presentation chest was that it not only had to be an accomplished work of art but had to, at the same time, accommodate a large chess set, sized in such a way to enable President Nixon to hold it between his arms while officially presenting it.

Highly-figured and rare curly American black walnut wood was chosen to construct the chest. This same wood, plus American curly hard maple, were chosen for the contrasting squares of the board.

The chest and board with the chess figures are now displayed in the National Museum of Russia in Leningrad.

Independence Hall

The recreation of four Queen Anne chairs, the original of which was made by William Savory of Philadelphia for the Governor's Council Chamber, circa 1740-1760. Initially, these were made for the Pennsylvania State House, which later became Independence Hall. (When the house was occupied by the British, four of the chairs were Broken and used for fire wood.) These chairs may now be viewed on the second floor of Independence Hall.

The antique restoration of eight grandfather's clocks including the important Frederick Maus clock with a carved cockerel phinial.

The antique restoration of a rare Chippendale curly maple cellarette, which is now placed in the Governor's Council Chamber.

The aptique restoration of three chest of drawers, four tables, and innumerable chairs, which are used in other areas of the Independence Hall complex,

Dolly Madison House

The antique restoration of a Queen Anne Spanish foot lowboy, circa 1730-1740, which is placed on the second floor of the Dolly Madison House and can Se seen there daily.

Second National Bank of the United States

Major restoration of the demi-lune card table including replication of the thistle flower inlay. This piece can now be seen on the second floor of the Portrait Gallery, Graff House, 7th and Market Streets (The rooms rented by Thomas Jefferson when he took On the task of writing the Declaration of Independence.)

The recreation of the original chair Jefferson sat in when Be wrote this famous document. This is an exact copy of the original now owned by the Philosophical
Society, which was formed by Benjamin Franklin. The chair is a Windsor arm type with a unique swivel based seat.

These rooms are also open for public viewing.

Franklin Court

The creation of a precise copy of Benjamin Franklin's electric experimentation machine. This amazing machine was invented in 1779 by Benjamin Franklin. The experiments done on this machine contributed to his great prestige and to the high regard the intelligensia of England and the rest of Europe had for Him. Because of his reputation, Franklin vas able to negotiate advantageously for the United States during revolutionary times, The machine is a complex one of wood turnings and joinery with leather and wrought iron fittings and includes a glass-blown globe, which revolves at high speed.

The recreation of Benjamin Franklin's Quadruple Music Stand, an ingenious device, which allows for the viewing of individual scores by a string quartet.

The restoration of Benjamin Franklin's carved French arm chair.

All of these objects may be viewed by the public at Franklin Court in Philadelphia.

City Tavern

It has been said that much of the important social and political discussions held during the early formation of our government were accomplished at the City Tavern, where our founding fathers partook of food and drink.

The recreation of four exact copies of three-legged, stretcher-based tavern tables.

Thee recreation of two tripod-based, adjustable music stands.

The restoration of an antique Chippendale pier mirror and the recreation of an exact copy.

The reconstructed and refurbished Tavern is now open to the public, serving food and drink daily.

Carpenters' Hall

Carpenters' Hall 320 Chestnut Street (The meeting place of the Carpenters' Company of the city and county of Philadelphia)

The Carpenters' Company consisted of many of the early planners, developers, builders and craftsmen of Philadelphia who were involved in the development of this country along with many of the founding fathers.

Restoration of seven Sack Back Windsor Chairs and two Comb Back Windsor Chairs, involving replacing and carving arm terminations, and repairing and restoring
original finish. These chairs are the original ones used by the Carpenters' Company, which was established in 1724.

George Washington's Headquarters

George Washington's Headquarters, Morristown, New Jersey.

The recreation of twelve exact copies of Chippendale Side Chairs, plus the design and recreation of one Chippendale Arm Chair.

Bent's Old Fort, La Junta, Colorado

In the early 1800s during the exploration of the West, Bent's Old Fort--at the juncture of two streams--was important to the development and security of the
western area.

The recreation of one 1835 period mahogany Billiard Table with brass fittings and hand-woven linen pockets, plus the recreation of two pool cues and one pool mace.

This fort and table were viewed in the television series of James Mitchner's book, Centennial.

Valley Forge Historical Park

The following were the recreations of George Washington's personal belongings used during his stay at Valley Forge. These pieces were made from the originals
which are at Mount Vernon:

Four 18th-century trunks, leather-covered, iron and brass bound, hand-forged locks and hardware, with engraved, personalized plaques.

Three packing cases, dove-tailed, painted and grained, personalized lettering with hand-forged iron hardware.

Two shaving cases, forged brass hardware, hand-painted initialing, interior upholstering.

One letter box, hand-lacquered, forged-brass hardware,
writing platform, compartments and drawers,

Derby House, Salem, Massachusetts

Elias Hasket Derby was a confidante of George Washington as well as other founding fathers. Besides being America's first millionaire, he owned or controlled eighty-five ships during the latter part of the Revolution. More importantly, he was a man of cultural knowledge and sophisticated tastes, who had some of the finest furnishings made for his personal home. Most of the important pieces of furniture have been dispersed to various museums and private collections, necessitating travel to the Boston Museum of Fine Art, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware, as well as to private collections on the eastern shore of Maryland and New
Orleans, Louisiana.

The recreation of a Bombay and slant-front desk with
carved ball and claw feet, circa 1740-1765.

The recreation of two carved mahogany arm chairs with bird-form arms replete with head, bill, beak and folded feather wings, and also with exfoliate asymmetrical-carved knees, terminating in carved ball and claw feet.
(The original of one of these chairs was used by George Washington when he was feted at Federal Hall.)

The recreation of eight hand-carved mahogany side chairs.

The recreation of a turned poster bed with canopy, circa 1770.

The Derby House is open daily.

Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, 20 West Tulpehocken St., Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia's first Victorian House Museum and Study Center.

The restoration of the following Victorian antiques:
Three Charles Whitehall chairs, one pair parlor chairs, two Hankel's-type gothic chairs, two Elizabethan chairs, one bookcase, one arm chair, two sofas, one
library table, one side table, one candlestand, two dressing tables with mirrors, one bow-front chest with mirror, and one Bed.

This historic Victorian house is open for daily viewing.

The Athenaeum, East Washington Square, 219 South 6th St., Philadelphia, PA

The restoration of an important Philadelphia pier table, 1835, an outstanding example of Philadelphia craftsmanship and design of that period, replete
with carved dolphins with painted, glazed, and gold-leafed shapes and scales.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church

The restoration of a Chippendale mahogany altar table, circa 1760-1780.

PRIVATE COMMISSIONS

Philladelphia Queen Anne Arm Chair, circa 1745

This chair has been designated by many museum curators as the finest American Queen Anne arm chair in the world. It was originally made from Joshua Humphreys,
the man who designed The Constitution and her sister frigate ships. The chair is a masterful combination of flowing lines, encompassing three carved shells and twelve carved valutes that terminate in carved trifed feet.

The original can be seen on the second floor of Independence Hall.

Chippendale Scro11-Top Highboy, Philadelphia, circa 1745

This highboy has been referred to by Albert Sack, the dean of antique dealers, as "certainly one of the greatest--if not the supreme--of Philadelphia highboys.
Flawless in design and proportion and constructed as a labor of love." The top accommodates eight drawers below a carved mold board surmounted with swan neck crestings, carved rosettes, flame-turned phinials and centering a magnificent carved cartouche. The base encompasses three plain drawers and centers a drawer with carved shelf with graceful foliate carving and a shaped and carved skirt between foliate carved knees, terminating in ba11 and claw feet.

In spite of its dramatic architectural stance, the highboy has extreme practical use because it measures just eight feet in height.

The original was made for Judge Stacy Potts of Trenton, New Jersey, and recreated for one of his direct descendents. The original can be seen in
the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

The foregqing commissfons have been listed not only because of
their historical importance but also because of their availability to the general public,

"There have been many private commissions important to me because of my meaningful, personal involvement with the people for whom I made or restored these pieces. As these have been too numerous to mention, only two have Seen included here."