ADVENTURES IN LOCKDOM III -- SUCCESS

This has been the focus of most of my attention over the past two weeks.......a charming period Louis XV Transitional Secretaire a Abattant, c. 1765.

Today was the day that Roberto was going to challenge the offending lock. Should I simply have him load the abattant into the Explorer and then cart it off to Carlos? Or should we try to open it ourselves? My idea was to cut out one of the oak panels under the top drawer; so that is where Roberto started... And Roberto will figure out just about everything and then stick with the problem until he arrives at a solution. After removing the panel, he couldn't see well enough to find the lock's screws--I scrounged up a small mirror and my neighbor had a flash light--and Roberto got to work

   BEGINNING

    IN PROGRESS (this took about 30-40 minutes)

     TRIUMPH

    

Because I had not seen the interior of the abattant before purchasing it, I was a bit worried that the leather surface would need to be replaced (this would be very very expensive as thin splits are used for writing surfaces--but not to worry. JUST LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF THE ORIGINAL LEATHER!!! Almost mint.......not only that, the entire interior of the abattant, including the small drawers, is in top notch original condition.

In this last photo you can see one of the sides where there is an additional locking mechanism (about 3 inches down from the top edge of the lid) that locks the sides so that the fall front cannot be pried open. 

This is not a simple, easy to fabricate key project. All aspects of the lock were custom made for this particular abattant; the double locking mechanism would cost me about $300-$400 to remove and then custom fabricate the new key from scratch. Fortunately, the fall front is very stable and remains upright even when Roberto hits the panel. 

So, I think my lock journey ends here. I will have the lower cabinet lock and the drawer lock repaired--a fairly easy task. And if the new owner wants to have a key made for the fall front, I will be happy to have Carlos create one at an additional cost.

Was there hidden treasure inside the abattant--haven't found it yet--but the beauty of the piece and Roberto's commitment to finding solutions is enough for me.

This fine little piece of furniture has been loved throughout it's 250+ years of life--I wonder what it has been witness to and who cared for it so lovingly. I am so happy that we didn't have to compromise any of its original integrity while opening the abattant. Roberto will do a little more restoration work on the rosewood veneer and then she will be ready to go.

AND TOMORROW IS AUCTION THURSDAY!!  I've got my eye on a sleeper (hopefully)--we'll see what happens.

Can't believe that it is almost Labor Day!!! This summer really did whiz by......

Be Well.

Mary & Jones & Cole

JUST A QUICKIE

Today is THURSDAY--and we know what that means: AUCTION DAY. I've been a bit, actually majorly under the weather; so it was great to actually feel good enough to make it to auction and have some play money in my pockets. Jones and I had previewed very quickly on Wednesday and we had only seen one item that was calling me (but only slightly). (Jones LOVES to go to auction to preview-he even knows which exit from the freeway leads to the auction house). So today, I arrived late. I mentioned to a good friend that I wanted to bid on a pair of bouillottes--of course, he did, too. So we decided to share the bouillottes if we got the bid. I expected that we would have to pay about $1000 for the lamps. But the stars must have been shining on us and we won them at an unbelievably low bid--I don't know what happened, nobody seemed to see that beneath the grime and tarnish was a gorgeous pair of late 19thc. (hopefully gilt) bronze pair of very frou-frou French bouillotte lamps with the most gorgeous large finely detailed flame finials. The photo below is of a Louis XV bouillotte, but not nearly as beautiful as the pair we bought. Of course, the bouillottes need extensive cleaning and new electrical fittings, but still..... I felt really lucky. 

Today, I stayed late as I had spied a period Louis XV Transitional marquetry Secretaire a Abattant. Louis Xv and fussy marquetry is not my usual style--I much prefer Louis XVI and gorgeous unadorned figured woods. But I'm stepping outside my comfort zone. I've been thinking of Howard Slatkin's book and relishing all of the beautiful rococo details. Southern California, at the moment, is not in a Louis XV mood, but thanks to the internet--the rest of the world is just a few clicks away. (I forgot to take photos before I left today--so I pulled this example from 1stdibs--it is much finer than the one I bought, but it is a good representation).  

The auctioneer started the bid at $500, and received no bids. He kept going down and I opened the bidding at $200---and I almost had the abattant at $350. But I did finally pull it in at a super low bid. It's a pretty little abattant and I won't need to do much restoration work--hopefully, the keys are in the office.

I guess that today was my day.

THANK YOU!!

Mia and family are in Hawaii awaiting the pair of hurricanes.......I'm sure that everything will be just fine at the Disney Resort!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week-end.

Mary & Jones & Cole