"Massachusetts Style" Cabinet

8 comments

1. woodwright February 21, 2011
   It's a gorgeous cabinet and in super shape. But I wonder if the top repair was done by John Bigwood or if it was made by him? The writing looks like it was done by the same hand. The original maker obviously would not have known that the top was to be repaired at a later date and would not have written "Top Rep" and have dated when the repair was done. And most likely the repaired would not have known who made the cabinet and signed the makers name - they would have signed their own name. The other option to consider is that it was made by John Bigwood, and and signed, and at a later date - he also did the top repair and dated it when the repair was done. If he signed this piece - he might have been in the habit of signing all of his work - there may be other pieces out there by him that bear his signature. woodwright
   1. John Werry February 21, 2011
      I'm inclined to believe that it was originally signed "John Bigwood Manchester, Mass" originally without the repair and the two dates. When it was repaired I think it was he who did the repair and added the 1875 construction date and the repair information. I say this because it looks as if the second pass is darker writing than the first. See here: signature 1 However, when I look at this one, the top of the repair writing has a lighter look to it: signature 2
   2. David Monk February 22, 2011
      Just a small clarification. The signature actually reads "Made By John Bigwood". woodwright - Perhaps John B. didn't specify a date for the build as it wasn't finished in a day, while the repair was. :) To me, it looks like the person added the top-repaired info might have done so as an afterthought just before sealing the back of the cabinet. The space where the writing was done is quite small. That could explain why they accidentally started writing in line with the original script and had to write around the 1875? John H - I agree with your assessment. I have a hunch that the family that owned this cabinet had a vacation home in Manchester and took the cabinet back to John B. for repair. John W. thanks for the great write up. It will be interesting to see if other John B. items surface.
2. John Hutchinson February 22, 2011
   John, excellent work as always! My two cents from the cabinet building and restorer's perspective, (= four cents) is that the Mr. B., made the cabinet and did the repairs. Knowing New England families, as I do (six cents) they would have gone back to the original maker. As do people now, when they have something exceptional built and there is a problem down the line. John, RVR
3. woodwright February 22, 2011
   As I thought about it - even before I saw the replies of John W., David & John H. I was feeling the same way about it as everyone else. I didn't know that it read "made by" - that makes it conclusive it was made by him and I suspect signed and dated 1875 when made. I also agree that he probably did do the repair and added the date which had to curve around the 1875 which was already there. The owners knew the builder and who better to trust repairing it than the builder himself - with whom they already had a relationship with. Excellent detective work. woodwright
4. Ulysses Dietz March 15, 2011
   This is the kind of out-of-left field documentation that keeps us interested after a lifetime in the field. Manchester Mass, for God's sake! Who woulda thunk? And I've always felt that Massachusetts Victoriana was not well enough understood or documented...because in Boston it all became bad taste by 1900 and was shunned. Good work, all.
5. charles zatzkin February 8, 2014
   I have just finished restoring a victorian fireplace mantel. Hand carved Gryphons and canthus leaves abound. This was written on the back of the piece: Benj F. Bigwood Manchester, Mass April 28th 1890
   1. John Werry June 4, 2014
      Must be the son mentioned in this blog post.