Bob Judd writes:

Hi Folks, I have a happy problem that I have worked for years
to finally achieve. I have a project to do that is of some historical
significance and I would like to leverage the work into some
recognition for my business. I would like to be able to restrict the
PR to the Boston Metro area as any stories in any sort of national
media could lead to work that would be geographically unreasonable.

We are working with a preservation specialist to select the right
colors (the set was originally painted/glazed) and was stripped
down to almost bare wood when we received the commission.
Designed & built by Louis Comfort Tiffany for the Ayer Mansion
on Commonwealth Ave. in Boston the basic design is unusual if
not unique. The set consists (or at least what remains of it that we
have) 10 chairs, a small serving  table, (appx 3' sq) and the main
table which is appx. 6' in diameter. There are 2 semi circular
leaves that are felt lined on the bottom that fit over the 6' table to
make it 8' diameter. The basic design of the "Breakfast Set" is not
easily pigeon-holed but obviously has a Mission/Craftsmen feel to it.

I would welcome any suggestions on how we might get some
local media attention- I have already made some connections but
I feel this is really a rare opportunity and I want to maximize our
visibility. Strangely enough, this is a perfect before and after
project since it was already stripped down to bare wood when
we were called in and is very much into the "Ugly Duckling"
phase of restoration. Attached are some photos that clearly
demonstrate what I mean. In its present state and lacking any
information about its history and significance, it would barely
deserve a second glance, except to someone extremely
knowledgeable about furniture.

Tiffany was much more that a lamp maker and jeweler- he
basically invented the  interior design field and in the case of the
Ayer mansion he and his people did the exterior as well. It is only
one of three surviving examples of his firms ability to do both interior
and exterior design work, the other 2 examples are the Mark Twain
house in Hartford, CT. and the Pierre Ferry House in Seattle, WA.

The large table has 6 legs which are hard to see in the pictures

and one photo shows 1 of the semicircular leaves in place. To

this point, I have made arrangements for a professional

photographer come in and shoot B4 and after shots, as well as

a local cable TV outlet which will be showing the set on a

program called Dream House.

 

Neither I nor anyone else connected with the project knows

who or when the set was stripped . I am also curious about

the felt underling of the leaves, which have some obvious water

damage. The quality of the fabric is vastly superior to anything

I have seen, even on a high quality billiards table.

Bob Judd
"Bob from Beantown"
Judd Refinishing
Dedham, MA