I found this dresser on craigslist a couple of weeks ago. The drawer joints were unlike anything I’ve seen before. After a bit of research online, I discovered that these corners, consisting of pins and crescent joints, were the first known machine-generated drawer joints in the industrial revolution age. They were called Knapp Joints after the inventor. This joint replaced the hand cut dovetail joints and was used from about 1870 – 1900. Used in furniture factories, the Knapp machine made it possible for a skilled cabinet maker to turn out 15 – 20 drawers per day. The drawer department finally caught up with the efficiency of other departments in the factory. But by 1900 a machine-made dovetail joint was perfected, completely replacing the Knapp Joint.
So if you find a dresser with these distinctive rounded joints, you can be sure the piece was constructed between 1870-1900 and probably by the Knapp Dovetailing Company in Northhampton, Mass.
Sources: http://www.i40antique.com/DatingFurniture.html
http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/knapp_joint_solid_as_dovetail_joints
Enough of the history lesson… on to the furniture. This piece had so many angles, cuts, details that a simple beautiful paint job was the only thing it needed. Here’s what I did:
1. Sanded
2. Primed with Benjamin Moore All Purpose Primer (oil based)
3. Painted two coats of Behr “Perfect Storm”
4. Lightly distressed
5. Sealed with two coats of wipe-on poly with a satin finish
6. Inside of drawers and knobs were painted a creamy white
Lesson learned: Do you see the small white specs on the drawer below? Well, I ran out of the lint-free pads used for the application of stain and poly so I used an old sock! Hence the ugly specs. Take my advice… cutting corners usually doesn’t yield a good result.
By the way, this is available at my etsy shop
Linking up to these parties:
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Justine said:
what did you use to distress it?
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
I used 100 grit sandpaper. But it distressed in an unlikely way. The paint almost chipped off while I was distressing rather than smoothly coming off. I hope that helps.
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iplayoutsidethebox said:
What a great find….and you finished it beautifully…even with the little white specks. To this date I had never saw those kind of joints before….loved reading the infomation on that…TFS. Ü
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
I LOVE the name of your blog. I’m headed over there now. Thanks so much for the comment.
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Tara said:
Thanks for letting us know about the joints. I have an old washstand that has those joints. Nice to know where they came from!
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Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said:
Happy to feature you at the party this morning!
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Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said:
A real beauty! And I don’t think I’ve ever seen joints like that before!
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Thanks! I’ve never seen them before either.
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Audrey Zumwalt said:
Love that piece … the color is beautiful. I don’t have much blue in my house now, but may paint something this color. I have studied a lot of furniture and I appreciate your history lesson on the Knapp joints.
Thanks for sharing,
Blessings,
Audrey Z. : http://audreyzumwalt.blogspot.com/
Timeless Treasures
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Thanks for the comment. I don’t have blue either but this piece is growing on me!
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Michelle@Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust said:
Oh my goodness, how beautiful. I absolutely love your taste! Thanks so much for sharing it on Fabulous Friday at Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust. I’m so glad you came to my par-tay.
Warmly, Michelle
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Thanks for the kind comment. Congratulations on the BHG mention!
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Danielle said:
This is gorgeous . I love the color and love how you staged it with that buoy. x Beautiful.
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Hi Danielle
Thanks for your comment. I hope to use this color again. It’s calm and has quite a presence!
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Thanks Danielle. We got the buoy while on vacation in Maine this summer. Lots of inspiration up in Maine!!
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The thrifty challenge said:
This loos amazing. I love your colour choice and the white handles.
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Courtney said:
i’ve definitely learnt the ‘don’t cut corners’ lesson too! it just doesn’t pay in the long run!! Beautiful as always Martha:)
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Angie said:
Wow – that’s really interesting. The joints are really lovely to look at – it would make me want to leave them open a little just to see them all the time! You did a beautiful transformation on it! Thanks so much for sharing at Knick of Time Tuesday! Please add my button to your post so you can be featured!
Blessings,
Angie
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Oops. I’m very good about adding buttons. I’m so sorry for not doing it. I will go fix that now. Have a great week.
Martha
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Fixed. Again, sorry for that oversight. You and other bloggers who host parties amaze me at the amount of time you spend hosting these parties. Thanks!
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MJ @ 517 Creations said:
How cool! We have a dresser with the same joints that serves as our “entryway” dresser. I’m going to have to do some more research on that! Thanks for a great post!
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Sew Sweet Vintage said:
Martha, opps, my correct website is http://www.sewsweetvintage.com 🙂 Cheers
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Sew Sweet Vintage said:
I love the blue and cream!!! Refinishing a vanity that I’m thinking this color combo!!! I posted Vintage Halloween Apron to the party. I’m a linky follower now. Follow me to at http://www.sewsweetvinatge.com and if you have time give this newbie a like on my face book box on my blog!!! Thanks for sharing:)
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Thanks for your comment! I’ll visit your blog tonight. I just liked you on FB!
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The Dedicated House (@DedicatedHouse) said:
Wow! It is gorgeous. The color has such depth. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Beyond the Picket Fence. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-it-pretty-monday-week-17.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
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Kelly @ JAX does design said:
The dresser started out beautiful, and you made it even better! Thanks for taking the time to do the research on the joints. I’ll be on the lookout for a Knapp piece on Kijiji 🙂
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Hi. Thanks for the comment and I love your blog! When I have a chance tonight, I’ll spend more time there. Have a great day.
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Kelly @ JAX does design said:
Thanks Martha 🙂 Hope you enjoy looking through my blog! I’ve posted a couple of furniture makeovers recently that you might like 🙂
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Lin said:
What a difference after you paint it! Just beautiul and I love the joints. Thanks for the history behind them and for showing them to us! Great job!
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judi said:
martha,
this is beautiful. i love the color and the knobs give it such a nautical vibe (or maybe its the buoy!) nonetheless, i seem to have an affinity to anything nautical, it must be my love of the ocean & its calming nature.
i appreciate the historical info. as well.
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
Thanks Judy. I’m looking forward to visiting your blog!
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martha at leonedesign.wordpress.com said:
I know! What a disappointment it would have been to hide such beauty. Thanks!
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Denise said:
It looks so good, i love it! I haven’t seen those type of joints before, its certainly different and i am happy you didn’t paint over them.. Love it!
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