Duncan Phyfe Was An Outlander
Read how I salvaged this Duncan Phyfe style drop leaf table and gave it new life.
Before I began this project, I knew very little about Mr. Duncan Phyfe or how he immigrated to America with his mother from "the tiny hamlet of Loch Fannich about 30 miles northwest of Inverness", Scotland. Outlander fans will appreciate his Scottish heritage. He was only 16 when he got an apprentice job with a New York cabinetmaker. Here he learned and perfected his craft and eventually went on to become one of the most famous furniture makers in New York and America. You can learn more about Duncan Phyfe here.
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| I wonder if he had red hair? |
Stored away for decades and slightly damaged from a house fire, the first step in bringing this beautiful table back to life was a good cleaning with tsp (trisodium phosphate), then repairing the veneer that had starting peeling from the top and underneath. This was nothing a little wood glue, a thin plank and some clamps wouldn't fix. I let the glue dry for 24 hours before I started painting.
Like mine, your project may look rough and hopeless after the first layer of paint. Try not to panic. Just let the first layer dry completely before adding your 2nd coat. This project took three layers of paint to get good coverage.
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| I used Valspar interior flat paint in Swiss Coffee. (a creamy white). |
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| After one layer of paint. Scary! |
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| Put your paint can in a cardboard box to catch drippings and to hold your paint stirrer and brush. |
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| I use a sponge roller to get the most consistent coverage. |
Duncan Phyfe must have designed this table out of necessity from living in a small New York apartment. It is small enough to store against a wall and be out of your way, but then it extends to be large enough to seat eight people. As is, it is a beautiful piece of art and a place to exhibit some favorite family photos or other treasures.
Happy Valentine's Day from Garden and Easel Art Studio
~Gay Lena
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