Featured John Bieber & the Edelweiss Chest

Here is a tavern table of mine, the top is a single board almost 2 feet wide, notice the "breadboard" end.

 

That makes it very clear what they are. So how did Bieber attach them?

 

Actually, it's 27 inches wide, i just measured it so 2 feet 3 inches wide.

 

Boy that is a huge span of wood. It's amazing how much bigger trees were then.

 

I don't know exactly, I have never examined his work, hopefully that will change tomorrow.
That isn't what drew me to those breadboard ends, it was viewing photos of various chests of his and those ends separating almost exactly the same way.
It could be nothing, photographs are notoriously unreliable but, pics are all i have at the moment.

 

Tomorrow - THE REAL THING! That's jumping for joy, by the way

 

Have you got it yet?

 

Just came 5 mins ago, take it easy!
First off it's tulip poplar which i thought it was, Pook missed the boat on that totally, they said pine. That's good because the Bieber's owned a sawmill & their furniture was built almost exclusively from.....TULIP POPLAR!
The brass chippendale pulls are original to the chest.
There are some documents/ broad sheets written in German, one is dated 1783, not sure what that is all about as i don't speak german.
The hinges are original to the chest and are hand wrought iron
The feet as expected, are replaced.
That's all i got for now.

 

Sounds wonderful so far.

 

How about the breadboard ends?

 

Well, looks like photo, it seems to me Mr Bieber used to thin stock when constructing those ends so if end took a hard bump, it could split, which is what happened. Those breadboard ends are mortised (groove in center) to accept lid tenon ( projecting piece of wood made for insertion into a mortise in another piece) on end of lid.
Left end of my chest has this issue, Philly chest has exact same issue on right end.
Somehow, i doubt Bieber would consider that a flaw, especially after 250 years of use but, no doubt it's fairly delicate there due to narrowness of breadboard end stock and a sharp/hard bump, splits it.

 

I just found this thread again. My bread board, older than I am, is made with that construction on the ends. I think it's one from my grandfather's bakery, so WWII era possibly. It's a good way to make a piece of furniture if it lasts 250 years without falling apart!

 

Hence the name, "breadboard end". Very popular construction among cabinetmakers all during 18th century america, trying to keep 2 foot wide+ boards flat was a major issue.

 

So I’m trying to picture this The breadboard end comes to a thinner rounded edge on the outer part as part of the Bieber design but the problem is this vulnerable thin edge caused it to split away? I appreciate the detailed description as it helps with the mental picture of your prize

 

Not exactly, you see how wide the breadboard end is on table above? Bieber end is MUCH narrower, then you have to mortise that end, further reducing wood mass on that narrow wood end. There just isn't enough wood mass left to absorb a sharp bump so, it splits.

 

Agrees, let's don't get to hung up on breadboard ends, lol. The main point is, my BB ends are exactly the same as other known Bieber chests plus they have the exact same vulnerability, they can split if handled rough.
The iron hinges are attached in exactly the same way as other known Bieber chests.
It's also worth pointing out that all Bieber chests/schranks are attributed, there are no signed pieces known.

 

No we can't !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Where are you? You've had it for almost 24 hours. Can we see the hinges?

 

lol, take it easy! it's just inside the door!
I was going to black light it last night but need batteries so didn't get that done yet, maybe tonite if i go get batteries!
Also i need to place it in the house, easier said than done! but foyer inside front door won't do, chest is way to big.
The hinges are consistent with other Bieber chests, very large and heavy and installed exactly as other known chest hinges are. Theory there is they are supposed to help keep lid from splitting which is just over 23 inches wide, pretty big slab of poplar there.
Is 99% sure now this chest was in fact built at their shop. I SCORED!
In examining the feet, it's obvious they were professionally restored by someone who knew what they were doing, probably did inpainting at same time as it's very well done.
One of the problems with chests like these is, most of the research, articles and books that are published are dominated by Foo Foo people (folk art types) whose ONLY interest is in the painted decoration. That is pretty much ALL they discuss and almost zero about the construction details. That's fine for fine art because all that's involved underneath the paint is usually a piece of stretched canvas but, EARTH to the Foo Foo people, this is a FURNITURE form, there is A LOT more involved here than paint. My little rant for today!

Listen to Book! I'll get it placed and photographs soon, by next week I'd say, where's the fire? i just got it literally just inside front door!