Hi,

This dining set is for sale, but I don't know if this is really quarter sawn wood... it definitely doesnt have the "tiger" patterns seen on sideboards, but I'm no expert... any thoughts?

(I think I can only post one photo per post, so I'll follow up with close up shots that the seller sent me)

((I would inspect it in person but it's an hour's drive from me, so if I could get some preliminary info from photos, that'd be the best))

(((THANKS!!!)))

Close up photo of chair

I wonder about the circles in the top of the chair, as well as the pegs where the arms meet the back set of the chair... is this just a cheap way to assemble a chair (i.e., assemble yourself set)?

Close up photo of table

Last photo, another close up shot of table

Hello mjh4y and welcome to this forum.

It would appear that most of the table and some pieces of the chairs are constructed from solid quarter sawn oak.

As a definition, veneer is a thin piece of generally more expensive wood glued to a piece of less expensive wood. It can be quarter sawn, rift sawn, or plain sawn. See the attached image that describes the different cuts. As an aside, quarter sawn wood is more expensive because the sawing process is comparatively wasteful if done truly perpendicular to the growth rings (like a star burst).

The 'circles' in the chair tops and the table are referred to as pegs. This is a sign of excellent construction, not poor construction.

There are also butterfly keys evident in the table top. These were employed by two or three of the brothers Stickley (and others) as decorative structural components, particularly in cabinet doors.

The a priori wood workers in this forum could also provide further detail.

This appears to be a contemporary dining room suite that incorporates a number of Arts and Crafts maker's elements (Stickely, Green & Green, Wright, etc.). Do you know the maker's name?

Best Regards,

Copperoak

I'll add the caveat that one would need to see all edges of the table to determine if veneer or solid quarter sawn wood has been used.

Copperoak

Also noticed that there are through-tenons on the arms of the chairs. If they are real and not applied, this is an expensive and very good way of building a joint.


Best Regards,

Copperoak

Hello All,
To go along with what Copperoak stated look at the end of the different boards and you will find that the quarter sawn boards are between 75º and 90ºwhile the rift sawn is between 45º and 74º and the flat sawn will have the annual rings of the wood in a curved effect.

I can't get to my pictures at this time but one can mentally visualize the appearance.

Ralph

to me, the set appears to be newly or at least recently constructed. it does not have the feel of a period set.

Nice set. Not antique, but a nice take on the style. Some of the oak appears rift sawn.

Hello Friends,
Since I build furniture in the arts and crafts method I have learned how to make a piece look like an antique and that is to mix Pratt and Lambert Satin finish cut by mineral spirits to make it hand rubbed finish material. After five coats and a wood paste wax the piece will look antique even though it is new.

Here is a couple of pictures to show you what I am talking about.

Here is another view.

I'm no expert but having been searching/looking at "mission" style ... now learning its truely
Craftsman style I was having the same concerns.
When I called and asked, most often the answer was veneer.
The picture you show of the table top is most likely a veneer top... at least the center bulk of it. The chairs are solid.

I think the tell tale sign is that there is no break in the grain in the table top. You simply do not see more than 6-8" width without glueing of some sort to create the one large solid surface. The picture you have shows the grain continous accross the the whole table.. except for the 6" edges. Which may also be veneer but harder to tell.

-Larry

Well, they probably had wider boards available back then... but having said that, if you look carefully at those pictures I think you'll see a joint at the lower most bowtie. Very good grain match, but I think it's there.

kc