Handmade furniture,reproduction furniture,Windsor chairs, Chippendale chairs, rocking chairs, antique reproduction furniture, painted furniture, furniture makers, and cabinet makers.

E-mail dcnchair@msn.com
www.dcnchair.com

Member of The Society of American Period Furniture Makers

In a small shop in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, David C. Nauman builds fine antique reproduction furniture in the tradition of Colonial
American furniture and cabinet makers. Windsor and Chippendale chairs, ladderback rockers, tables, desks, beds, and cupboards are all built
and finished using the time tested techniques of eighteenth century craftsman. Custom orders are always welcomed, and reproduction
paneling and millwork are also available, as well as repair and restoration of antique chairs and furniture pieces and general furniture repair.

Construction and Finishing

Pinned mortice and tenons and hand cut dovetails always have and always will define the difference between fine handmade furniture and mass
produced copies. I take great pride in using traditional joinery to produce reproductions that are true to the original antique furniture pieces of the
eighteenth century. As was the case with Pennsylvania cabinet makers and furniture makers of that era, I tend to work primarily in walnut and cherry,
since these woods were, and still are, native to Pennsylvania and are easily obtainable in both quantity and good quality. Other traditional woods,
such as tiger and birdseye maple, mahogany, and highly figured crotch boards are generally available as special orders. For secondary woods, I use
either pine or poplar, depending upon the application.

The techniques I use to finish my furniture are basically the same ones used by early American cabinet makers. All surfaces are hand planed and scraped
prior to finishing. This lends a texture to the wood that is both authentic and very pleasing to the hand and the eye. Shellac and oil is my finish
of choice, again because it is both traditional and beautiful. For painted furniture (as well as on the inside of case pieces and on Windsor chairs and
rocking chairs) I use milk paint and oil, which gives a rich, durable, textured finish that ages beautifully. I use stains sparingly.
Rather than trying to change the color of the wood, I prefer to use a wood that is naturally the desired color. A subtle stain that highlights the
natural character of the wood and produces an aged effect is what I use on all my pieces. All hardware is high quality sand cast reproduction
brasses and hand forged iron.