Thread: Preserved Roman Wooden Furniture

Nice Video Sam.

That little table would be a nice one to do a modern re make of in local or imported woods of ones own choice and your own idea of the top construction.
My guess is that original top is one solid piece with the segments just glued on top. Maybe not though. Id love to know more about that. A better construction method would make sure it stayed straight. 4 mitred sectons fitted to a solid panel before the segments get glued on. Maybe the ancient Joiners did that with the build? Not necessarily veneered both sides though .
Some types of pine or Fir can be very stable from wet through to to dry probably. Its pretty incredible how straight the top still is after going through what it has gone through!!
And the Ovolo mould that runs around it! Is it possible to ever see a more classical original Ovolo on something wooden than that one? Amazing!
Another guess is the segmented "Intarsia" top is the Rosewood and the rest the Fir? What rosewood could it be?
There has to be some serious study done on that stuff to read more about it.

I looked up the word Intarsia
Intarsia - Wikipedia

furniture3.jpeg Untitled.jpg

Rob

Very good wooden hinge on the cabinet too

Originally Posted by auscab

That little table would be a nice one to do a modern re make of in local or imported woods of ones own choice and your own idea of the top construction.

I was thinking exactly the same thing Rob, I'd love to have a crack at it myself when my skill and tools allow. As for the Rosewood, I imagine alot of research on trade routes of the Romans and places they conquered is in order. I would have said Indian Rosewood was used as that was quite abundant around that time. As I understand though, the Romans didn't conquer India, I'm also unsure of their trade agreements.

Originally Posted by EagerBeaver71

I was thinking exactly the same thing Rob, I'd love to have a crack at it myself when my skill and tools allow.

The bench you made with the gap under the top is the tool for pressing a top like this. I was talking about that when you built it. With the right bridge clamp made up you can press stuff as wide as your bench width or the bench length down easy. Cut shape and build the pattern as you go from sawn veneers or sliced. I have the same as you know and its how I pressed most of the veneers in that latest restoration job.

Originally Posted by auscab

The bench you made with the gap under the top is the tool for pressing a top like this.

I've made good use of it so far Rob, but not used it to press any thin veneers yet. The top is still totally flat and I still love the bench design. I just need to get around to making the dog holes which I plan to do once the coffee table is done.