In an earlier article I shared input from one reader of the blog, regarding the type of joint used in an old drawer that Sandy and I found in an old dresser in an antique shop in Pennsylvania (answer: Knapp joints). Now he is asking for our help to find the period-correct type of pulls he should buy and install on dresser drawers in an old maple dresser. He writes (I added the bold emphasis):
..here’s a few photos of the old maple dresser with the Knapp joint drawers …. someone over the years had previously refinished it and put cheap Chippendale style bail pulls on it but they don’t belong …the finish was in sad shape so I had to refinish it again … the escutcheon plates appear to be original except for the brass nails … the plates themselves appear to be stamped copper. A local antique dealer said he thinks the plates are what was called a “Rice” design but I’m not familiar with it and he wasn’t positive …. Any info you or your readers might have on what type of pulls should go on this piece (will be) greatly appreciated.
The photos he submitted are as follows. First, the drawer with the Knapp joints:
And the dresser looks like this:
The lock detail – although a little out of focus, I hope it can help narrow down the search:
Knowing that Al is also an avid woodworker, I requested additional information about his hobby. He wrote:
The pair of night stands I built to accompany this dresser are almost ready for finishing.
A photo of one of the nightstands he will be finishing soon – (gorgeous work, Al):
Friends, Al needs your help. I am not an expert in this period furniture (or any other period, for that matter). Please leave a Comment, or let me know via e-mail, and I will pass the information to Al. Many thanks!
— Al Navas
drawers …. someone over the years had previously refinished it and
put cheap Chippendale style bail pulls on it but they don’t belong …
the finish was in sad shape so I had to refinish it again … the
escutcheon plates appear to be original except for the brass nails …
the plates themselves appear to be stamped copper. A local antique
dealer said he thinks the plates are what was called a “Rice” design
but I’m not familiar with it and he wasn’t positive …. Any info
you or your readers might have on what type of pulls should go on this
piece greatly appreciated.
About Al Navas
Knapp joints were in use from 1870 to 1900. This would put it into the Victorian style. These joints were American since Knapp was from Michigan or Wisconsin and so you see some lessening of the truly ornate and frilly Victorian aspects. This piece instead is much more Americanized in its ornaments. The lock escutcheon does speak Victorian to me but late Victorian as you can see hints of the Arts & Crafts too. A lot of Victorian drawer pulls are bail pulls. They lack the ornate back plates like the Chippendale style already on this piece but have simple round plates behind the posts. My suggestion would be to seek out a Vintage hardware company and look through their Victorian stuff for a pattern that mimics the escutcheon.
Shanks, Shannon! I will make sure to pass on the information, especially if Al does not see your comment here.