On Saturday you have an opportunity to meet a terrific craftsman: Joel Ficke.

Joel Ficke

Joel Ficke makes beautiful furniture, in the style of early American masterpieces. And he will be at the meeting of the Society of American Period Furniture on Saturday, July 30, 2011, in Kansas City.

This is Joel’s version of the Gratz High Chest, inspired by a piece at the Winterthur Museum:

From Joel Ficke’s web site, as he describes the work he does:

…” take on customer commissions, teach several courses a year at various locations, and work on my own pieces from a studio in Bloomer, Wisconsin with focus on reproducing the finest early American masterpieces known using authentic materials and techniques from raw stock selection through hand-applied finishes. I also try to display works at the Northern Woods show furniture show in Minneapolis, MN each year and in 2009 was fortunate enough to win the ‘Best Tradition Piece’ award for the architectural corner cupboard shown in the gallery. I’m also an active member of the Minnesota Woodworker’s Guild and Society of American Period Furniture Makers.”

On Saturday Joel will discuss the history, the cultural significance, and the provenance of the iconic Reifsnyder Easy Chair (see the program PDF file). If you would like to attend this meeting, please contact Calvin at bhobbs@tcco.com. For additional details you can also download the PDF file with meeting details by clicking here.

Video:

Joel Ficke’s video on Reproducing the Gratz Tallchest:

— Al Navas