Categories
Bullnose planes John Holland London Planes

John Holland, planemaker.

There’s not much on the web about John Holland.

A planemaker, obviously of some considerable skill, he worked his trade in Lambeth, South London for a time between 1861 to 1892, a time thought of as the ‘Golden Age’ of infill planes. His two work addresses list him as residing at 68 Oakley Street, Lambeth and later 93 York Road, also of Lambeth. Coincidentally, when at the York Road address, another close neighbour was doing quite well turning out a few infill planes. A fellow called Thomas Norris!

I recently took a leap of faith and purchased a small bullnose plane I liked the look of. Something about the shape suggested it was very well-made. It turned up in the post, and I was overjoyed to see it was made by John Holland. Being a collector of good London planes, Holland had so far evaded me. The following shots show the plane, made of gunmetal, with a beautiful ebony infill.

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The only other nice Holland plane I’ve seen recently was the lovely chariot plane offered (pics below), by Simon at ‘The Old Tool Shed’. (Plane is now sold).

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Simon has been a huge help to me in sourcing information about tools and maintains an excellent tool site with some great tools. If you’re looking for some vintage tools, it’s a site you have to visit. I quite regret not buying his Holland plane from him now, having seen how few Holland’s come to market!

Whilst trying to set up the Hackney Tools website, I’ve also received no end of support and advice from Gary at Old School Tools. Gary’s site is a ‘must-visit’. He’s pleased to offer advice to anyone with the same interest, and has a stock of tools, and an encyclopedic knowledge of them which is truly amazing.

If you have any more information about John Holland, please get in touch. I’d like to build my own site up with as much information about London tool makers and dealers as possible, especially makers who worked in the east end and Hackney.

At Hackney Tools, we buy old, good quality woodworking tools. If you have any tools you would like to sell, please get in touch using the contact form on the home page.

Categories
Carving Practical techniques

English misericords

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This week I delved into the strange and wondrous world of English misericords.
A colleague at work handed me the excellent book by Marshall Laird on the subject. To quote from the book’s inner page:

“Hidden beneath the tip-up seats of the choir stalls of many English churches and cathedrals are some of the most vivid images that have come down to us from the Middle Ages. Their originality of design, breadth of subject-matter and artistry render these misericords England’s finest surviving mediaeval wood carvings. These sculptures were normally out of sight, so the craftsmen felt free to carve everyday scenes and animals from their own lives as well as the monsters and mermaids that swarmed in their imagination, rather than the religious subjects one might expect.

Here are some more examples I found on the web. Fascinating stuff.

Misericord from inside at 'Boston Stump', Lincolnshire, UK. Or, to give the chruch it's full name, 'St Botolph's Church of the Parish of Boston'.
Misericord from inside at ‘Boston Stump’, Lincolnshire, UK. Or, to give the church it’s full name, ‘St Botolph’s Church of the Parish of Boston’.

'In this Ripon Cathedral misericord (1489-94)Samson is shown passing in front of the crenellated walls of Gaza as he carries off the pair of city gates, one gate under his arm, the other over his shoulder (referring to the episode in Judges 16).'
‘In this Ripon Cathedral misericord (1489-94)Samson is shown passing in front of the crenellated walls of Gaza as he carries off the pair of city gates, one gate under his arm, the other over his shoulder (referring to the episode in Judges 16).’

Wrestlers misericord at St Laurence, Ludlow, Shropshire, England.
Wrestlers misericord at St Laurence, Ludlow, Shropshire, England.

'Misericord of a mythical beast known as a wyvern'. (From Great Malvern Priory).
‘Misericord of a mythical beast known as a wyvern’. (From Great Malvern Priory).

Misericords were not confined to England. This face is from Bourg-en-Bresse cathedral in France.
Misericords were not confined to England. This face is from Bourg-en-Bresse cathedral in France.

Categories
College

Finished college project

I’ve been overwhelmed with one request to see my finished college project. Not wanting to deny my audience, here it is, my finished bedside cabinet. It just needs a drawer knob, but apart from that, it’s pretty much there. I learned a lot, making this little cabinet. And I allow myself a little bit of pride in the drawer with lapped dovetail joints on the front corners, (my first ever dovetail joints). I’m pleased with these, may there be many more.
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Finishedcabinet_2

Categories
Carving Grinling Gibbons

Grinling Gibbons (St James church, Piccadilly)

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A day of contrasts. A visit to Soho, central London today. A long, boozy lunch, the sort of lunch that would have been commonplace in the 80’s, with an enjoyable talk with a friend about the state of publishing, ideas for new ventures and a catch up about shared colleagues. Them taking advantage of the location, and with the need to slightly sober up, I walked down to St.James church in Piccadilly, to see the Grinling Gibbons carvings I’d read about in David Esterly’s book.
Words can’t really express how amazing this work is, so I won’t even try. Some better pics than my poor phone pictures, can be seen on Flickr here.

Categories
Ashley Iles Carving Chisels Herring Bros

Carving chisels

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I’ve just listed a few carving chisels for sale. Decent makers.