Fido3

Oh dear, what a mess I caused. My apologies to everyone.

I didn't realize there were eligibility issues and didn't think to look for them. My fault there in that assumption.

I also had no clue I'd win anything and frankly didn't intend to. I just saw a bookcase competition and thought to post my favorite and see what people thought, comments always being useful for my future designs.

Now I feel like the "End of an Era bookcase," sad and losing books (a very expressive piece).

Strother Purdy
Fido

Oh dear, what a mess I caused. My apologies to everyone.

I didn't realize there were eligibility issues and didn't think to look for them. My fault there in that assumption.

I also had no clue I'd win anything and frankly didn't intend to. I just saw a bookcase competition and thought to post my favorite and see what people thought, comments always being useful for my future designs.

Now I feel like the "End of an Era bookcase," sad and losing books (a very expressive piece).

Strother Purdy
Fido

Apologies for the very long delay in replies, but I've been really distracted of late and forgot about the post.
Thanks very much for all the kind comments. I should hire you all for public relations.

I have only one detail photo, just a close up of the base. I can't seem to post a new photo to the entry (I get an error message), so if you're curious you can find it on my website, www.strotherpurdy.com. The bookcase is under "other pieces.

My first design had a rounded top. The full-size template of the sides, though, looked awful. So I gave it horns instead. I try not to leave sketches of designs with clients for just this reason.

The photo distorts the proportions a bit, making the top look somewhat pinched and smaller than it really is. In person, the top has a lot of upward movement. It was an unexpected effect and a good one. On delivery, the client threw his hands in the air and said "it soars!" But his wife disliked the light color and almost made me take it back to be stained or remade in a darker wood. I made the point that the lightness helped it "soar." He won, so I got paid and went home with an empty truck. His wife eventually learned to like the soft tones of the pear.

I once showed a photo of it to a gallery owner in New York City. His only comment was that the lower portion needed doors. I agreed, then explained my client's wishes, but still came away with singed eyebrows. Glad you guys like it.

The construction is relatively simple. In part to keep costs down (the clients were on a budget), but also to avoid the grain-less look of lamination, all the curves are cut from solid pear. The curved frames are held together by a combination of mortise-and-tenon and floating tenon joints.

The shelves are supported by cantilevered arms. The original locking pins were in hard maple, but they compressed into U shapes and broke after about five years. I retrofitted brass pins and came away with new respect for the weight of books. The top is a thin plywood lamination with shop-sawn veneer. Otherwise the piece is solid pear. It has a Watco oil and wax finish.

Thanks again for the many kind comments.

Strother Purdy
Fido