John was having a hard time coming up with what to get me for Christmas this year, so I decided to help him out. I suggested that he take my grandmother's hope chest to Noel Pearson, woodmaker extraordinare, to see if he might be able to repair and restore it.
This chest has travelled around with me since I graduated from college. It's lived in Boston, LA, Boston, LA, and now New Zealand. It had definitely seen better times, had been damaged and neglected, but I've kept it both for sentimental and practical reasons. It's made of cedar, so is great for storing and protecting my knitted sweaters from moths.
While we don't have any "before" photos, here are the "after" shots. John was so excited with how it turned out (as was Noel), he couldn't wait until Christmas to show me!
This chest was made in Chattanooga, Tennessee by the Tennessee Furniture Company, which started operating in 1923. The chests functioned as hope or linen chests, and were used by women to store their precious laces, embroidery and fine wools. The Tennessee red cedar protects things from moths and other pests. For those unfamiliar with "hope" chests, these were given to young girls when they turned 14 to hold linens and clothing to be sewn ahead of their engagements and marriages (hence the need for "hope").
This has come up beautifully, with thanks to Noel for his workmanship and to John for a truly wonderful Christmas present. The grain of the wood, which previously wasn't at all apparent, is amazing.
Just goes to show you that one should never give up hope?!
couldn't he have hidden it in the shearing shed til Christmas Day?
Posted by: Katherine Scott | 12/20/2013 at 01:39 PM