DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62828#0451
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Grangers to particular pieces of furniture. For this reafon I
have made it my bufinefs to apply to the beft workmen in dif-
ferent drops, to obtain their affiftance in the explanation of fuch
pieces as they have been moll acquainted with. And, in gene-
ral, my requeft has been complied with, from the generous
motive of making the book as generally ufeful as poflible.
The methods therefore propofed, and the remarks made,
may be depended on by thofe who have not yet had an oppor-
tunity of feeing the different pieces executed.
This is an attempt which has not yet been made in any
book of cabinet deligns, except a very few Hight hints; and.
though it muft be acknowledged by every impartial mind as
highly ufeful, and even in fome cafes abfolutely neceffary, yet
I am apprehenfive it will not meet with the approbation of
thofe who wifh to hoard up their own knowledge to them-
felves, left any fhould fhare in the advantage arifing from it.
In fome inftances it may be neceffary for a man to keep know-
ledge to himfelf, as his own property, and upon which his
bread may depend; but I do not fee any impropriety in perfons
of the fame branch informing each other. In trades where
their arts depend on fecrets, it is right for men to keep them
from ftrangers; but the art of cabinet-making depends fo much
on practice, and requires fo many tools, that a ftranger cannot
Y y fteal
Grangers to particular pieces of furniture. For this reafon I
have made it my bufinefs to apply to the beft workmen in dif-
ferent drops, to obtain their affiftance in the explanation of fuch
pieces as they have been moll acquainted with. And, in gene-
ral, my requeft has been complied with, from the generous
motive of making the book as generally ufeful as poflible.
The methods therefore propofed, and the remarks made,
may be depended on by thofe who have not yet had an oppor-
tunity of feeing the different pieces executed.
This is an attempt which has not yet been made in any
book of cabinet deligns, except a very few Hight hints; and.
though it muft be acknowledged by every impartial mind as
highly ufeful, and even in fome cafes abfolutely neceffary, yet
I am apprehenfive it will not meet with the approbation of
thofe who wifh to hoard up their own knowledge to them-
felves, left any fhould fhare in the advantage arifing from it.
In fome inftances it may be neceffary for a man to keep know-
ledge to himfelf, as his own property, and upon which his
bread may depend; but I do not fee any impropriety in perfons
of the fame branch informing each other. In trades where
their arts depend on fecrets, it is right for men to keep them
from ftrangers; but the art of cabinet-making depends fo much
on practice, and requires fo many tools, that a ftranger cannot
Y y fteal