C.H. Becksvoort - Cool Stuff

COOL STUFF

Most of the items shown here, except The Shaker Legacy, are not in the catalog, but are listed only on this site. They come and go depending on what sells, and what I think might be of interest.

To save everyone about 4%, I don't accept credit cards. All prices include shipping. Maine residents please add 5% sales tax. Send check, cash, or money order to:

C. H. Becksvoort
P O Box 12
New Gloucester, ME 04260

Buy the Book Today!

The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style
By Christian Becksvoort. The Taunton Press, 1998

Shaker furniture has influenced countless designers, myself included. This new book looks also at the Shaker contributions in the fields of music, art, religion, civil rights, and modern conveniences. An entire chapter deals with how their designs and workmanship were a direct outgrowth of their religious beliefs. The majority of the book is devoted to over 140 cases, tables and chairs, desks, built-ins, beds, clocks, and smaller items. Examples of the full spectrum of early, classic and Victorian pieces are explored, some never before photographed. Autographed, of course.
"If your library has room for only one book on the Shakers and their furniture, this is it." -Shaker Workshops.
$ 40.

Wood Junkie T-shirt. A 220 X enlargement of end grain black cherry, my favorite wood.
White on a black shirt. M, L, or XL. $20.

My Chest's Better Than Your Chest T-shirt. Considering the 300 hand cut dovetails, secret compartments, and the exquisite cherry that goes into the 15-drawer chest, you'd better believe my chest's better than yours. Screened to celebrate my 500th piece, which just happened to be the 15-drawer chest.
White on a black shirt. M, L, or XL. $20.

C. H. Becksvoort T-shirt. This features one of my favorite
Lie-Nielsen block planes.
White on black shirt. M, L, or XL. $20.

From my days when I was better with a camera than a chisel. The Hesper & Luther Little, abandoned in Wiscasset, ME, for years fixtures along route 1. The photo was shot in 1972 and posterized; reduced to pure black & white and one shade of gray. 11 x 14.
Mounted on poster board and signed, $85.
Mounted, matted, signed and framed, $375.

Limited edition of a small poster from the preface of my first book, In Harmony with Wood, now out of print. Letterpress printed by the Redwagon Press, 1998. Only 12 copies left. 7 1/2 x 12 1/2.
Signed. $60.

Set of seven custom made, Japanese chisels. Designed by me, these heavy-duty "Becksvoort pattern" chisels are trapezoid in cross section to get right into dovetail corners. Hand made by the Japanese Master chisel maker Akio Tasai. A layer of white steel with a Rc hardness of 65 is forged onto 18 layers of Damascus steel (mokume or "wood grain"). The shaft is twisted and the steel is acid etched. With white oak double hoop handles. Sizes 4.5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 mm (or about 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4,and 1"). With fitted case. Only one set made, extremely rare, these chisels are a work of art.
$5,875.

Dovetail marker. I made mine in 1975, out of dogwood, and it still has nice, crisp edges. In dogwood, hornbeam or apple, whatever I have available. About 3" long, with a 10° angle (unless you specify otherwise). $25.

Angel Gabriel cards. Perhaps you can't afford the weather vane shown in New Work & Prototypes. This is one alternative. Pack of 10 cards, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" with envelopes. Peace on Earth inside.
$15.

Chopping Dovetails. Greeting card (blank inside) on heavy, off-white stock, 4-1/4" x 6".
Woodcut by Caldecott Award-winning artist, Mary Azarian.
Pack of 10 cards, with envelopes, $15.

Wooden bookmarks. Now, in addition to being well-read, you can also show a bit of class. These wooden bookmarks are scroll sawn from cherry waste by my friend Alan Bradstreet of Pownal, ME. Twenty different designs to choose from: Plane, drawknife, bit brace, carving tools, moon & stars, music note, oak leaf, maple leaf, iris, dolphin, cat, wolf, horse, dragon fly, heron, humming bird, butterfly, loon, saw, lizard.
Minimum of 5 for $20. ($4 for each additional), your choice of designs.