Comments on: Thomas Brooks Sideboard Stencil Confirms Maker

By: russ

russ — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:25:08 +0000

I am the owner of the thomas brooks piece on the home page. I am now taking any serious offers for this piece.

By: Kilian Brothers Table In Hiding | Rare Victorian

Kilian Brothers Table In Hiding | Rare Victorian — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:16:56 +0000

[...] for trash pickup in decades past probably influences that tendency. I forgot to mention in this earlier post that this signed piece by Thomas Brooks was found on the curb for trash pickup in Brooklyn by the owner’s father 50 years [...]

By: Paul Tucker

Paul Tucker — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:57:24 +0000

I’ve found Merklen pieces that have been “signed” by George Flint and Paine Furniture. It gets confusing to find a piece that you’re sure is by one maker but has a label on indicating someone else may be the maker. I learned that both Flint and Paine were wholesalers of others work in addition to selling their own. Do you know that Thomas Brooks didn’t sell anyone elses work?

By: John Werry

John Werry — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:52:52 +0000

Yeah, I had felt the crest was missing as well. The stepped decrease in width continues gradually from level to level until …. stop.

By: woodwright

woodwright — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:51:05 +0000

It does indeed look like a wooden drawer pull John – you can see where the finish has worn. Thanks for the closeup.
Wooden pulls are much less sturdy than metal pulls and prone to damage due to their delcate size and the fact that they are handled and pulled on frequently. It is also faster and easier to put a metal pull on than to make a wooden pull, finish it and install it (probably cheaper too when you consider the time factor) – a screw in wood is also not as solid as a screw or nut in metal either. These are all reasons why you don’t see wooden pulls very often.
I agree too, it does look like it is missing it’s crest – very flat topped. It would have been interesting to see what the crest looked like. If the owner is watching – he/ she could maybe chime in on whether there are dowel holes on the top (from the missing crest) or a ghost/ silhouette of where one once existed. woodwright

By: stever

stever — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:53:16 +0000

good call Bart. this is a nice piece but it certainly
appears the top wouldn’t fit in an 8′ ceiling and suffered
a decapitation! i love the bottom unit but the upper section
seems rather disproportional. thanks john for a nice
piece of ren revival as i am one whom you were referring too!

By: Bart

Bart — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:04:48 +0000

I wonder if there was once a crest that is now missing?

By: John Werry

John Werry — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:28:37 +0000

I added a picture for you, Woodwright. Looks like wood to me.

By: woodwright

woodwright — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:17:53 +0000

Nice to see a documented / signed piece by Brooks. It’s pleasant, and has some nice details – but it’s not exuberant or over the top. The griffins from the front look quite ordinary – not showing a lot of musculature or details, also not much color contrast (like ebonized or gilded accents) – other than the few darkened rosettes.
It’s hard to tell from the pictures (even zoomed in) – but the drawer pulls almost look like they are turned wood rather than brass/ metal. Maybe not – but it would be unusual if they really are wood. woodwright