Rhode Island Desk and Bookcase Build Process by Doucette and Wolfe Furniture Makers Part 1

Making a Newport Rhode Island Secretary Desk Part 1. This Block and Shell Desk and Bookcase is made of solid Mahogany and Tiger maple. This video shows the process for making the lower case which includes the Slant Front Desk, desk interior, 20 shaped and dovetailed drawers with the dovetail joinery is cut by hand, shell carvings, desk lid with shell carvings and the shaped and carved ogee feet.

Part 2 will have the show the upper case, doors and Pediment.

Finish used is Seal and Royal Lac from

This Rhode Island Desk and Bookcase is one of the most famous pieces of American Furniture associated with the Townsend Goddard family of cabinetmakers of Newport, Rhode Island. There are nine know examples of this style Block and Shell Carved Desk and Bookcase, all of which are in museums around the country except for one which sold at Christies of New York in 1989 to a private buyer for a record $12.1 Million Dollars. This desk and bookcase is going to be a version based on 4 of the 9 known examples. The four original Secretary Desks this is based on are attributed to John Goddard and are located at the Rhode Island School of Design, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. We will be making this Desk and Bookcase out of solid South American Mahogany using a spectacular plank of figured mahogany for the Drawer Fronts, Lid, door panels and pediment panels. The interior drawer parts are all made from a single log of tiger maple. The parts will be re-sawn from the larger planks.
All Carvings are done by hand and all of the dovetail joinery is hand cut.

[andrewpinson]

Who on Youtube is still doing this quality of workmanship. I really miss watching them work.

[danielmiller]

I have been a cabinet and furniture maker for 35 years. I love to watch other woodworkers the Japanese are some of the best, but you are by far the best furniture maker I've ever seen. Watching you actually makes me tear up with joy. No joke.

[chris]

This is magical! Dude, you must've been reincarnated every 60-80 years for the passed 600-800 years to have gathered this much skill and surgical precision. I'm totally blown away by these things you are able to do.
Shame you don't talk much and share your thoughts from time to time as doing so would be a wonderful kind thing to do.

[phooesnax]

OMG. Where is the standing ovation button. You are the master Sir. The detail in this is staggering. The secondary wood nice nicer than almost everything. Unbelievable!

Jim
So much respect.

[batbawls]

Doucette and Wolfe is the rare trifecta of attention to detail, a very high degree of skill, and art.

[טלשדמה]

probably the best video on youtube i ever watched.

[grantwbrewer]

This work is my benchmark for what mastery looks like. I bet I’ve watched these videos 100 times. The carving and curves are probably the next steps in my development as a furniture maker. One day, I’d like to say I made just one piece that looks a little like the furniture this man makes every time.

[stephenholmes]

I love how these artists are using antique tools, so authentic!

[robertlassiter]

I never get tired of hearing the sound of a hand plane going over wood. Especially maple. It sounds buttery smooth. This is really beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

[igardz]

After twenty years of experience as a carpenter, seeing this way of working, I just know that I know nothing ... congratulations you are a great inspiration

[RobRobertson]

What an inspiration. It is so wonderful knowing that real craftsmanship is still alive and well.

[waynepennington]

In my opinion these furniture makers are the best in the world an the best there ever has been I mean like these guys are second to none.

[tpistor]

Incredible! Astonishing. If you and Davide Sora got together, you could rule the galaxy.

[ultraric]

The beauty of skill, the skill of beauty.

[Wood_Slice]

I so wish you posted videos more frequently. I keep rewatching your videos over snd over. Love your selection of intersting figured wood species.

[benfurbank]

As a carpenter with traditional cabinet making training I look at this and just vicariously enjoy your and know I can do a lot of the elements in this kind of build I just know I don't have enough skill to pull it all off yet. Well done in short! Fabulous work

[SecondWindWarrior]

Awesome craftsmanship. I watch this and think about what I have to learn. I think we could come up with some more modern scroll designs. I mean these fans and clam shells are some of the best but I think we could make something new.

[marcuscicero]

this workmanship is just so drop dead beautiful over the top. privilege to watch

[manuelitoservantes]

Why arent we seeing more content.
You are truly inspirational!

[kellykdc]

It's like Christmas Morning whenever I get the alert that you guys posted a new video.