17th-century Essex County Cupboard Paint & Drawer-front Carving

Any moment now, we’re expecting an email that Peter Follansbee’s new book, “17th-Century Essex County Cupboard” will be arriving at the warehouse. So here’s an excerpt from Chapter 8, on decoration. – Fitz The cupboard’s decoration includes integral mouldings on some of the framing parts, applied mouldings on the door, panels, drawers and around both cases, carving on one drawer front, applied turnings all over in the form of pilasters, ovals, rounds and drops, and paint. I do some of this work as I’m framing the cupboard (the integral mouldings), some ahead of time (the carved drawer fronts). The applied stuff you can work on at various stages during the project, or save them all up for after assembly. I tend to work that stock up as I go; it’s easy enough to find time between tasks to make a few runs of moulding or some turnings. I attached all of the applied work with hide glue, with the thought that it makes repairs/replacements easier than if I were to use yellow glue. Most of…