The top of the cube consists of another panel that lifts at an angle to hold a fifth book. Each side of the cube lifts up slightly at the base and can be propped up to hold a book. It folds down into a onefoot cube and opens to hold up to five books simulataneously. This jefferson bookstand also makes a great display piece. Books by thomas jefferson author of the declaration of. As many as five books could be placed on it at a time. The stand also rotates, and when not in use it all slides together into a simple wooden box. How to make a thomas jefferson jeffersonian bookstand with.
Custom made thomas jeffersons revolving bookcase by. When in use, the revolving bookstand allowed jefferson to easily access five books at one time by rotating it. Legend has it that thomas jefferson designed this bookstand in 1810 and. This revolving bookstand, once thought to be a music stand, was probably made to jeffersons design and specifications in the joinery. An article courtesy of the thomas jefferson encyclopedia.
Judeochristian stained glass graphics illuminated cabinet c0216. Saying no will not stop you from seeing etsy ads, but it may make them less relevant or more repetitive. Revolving armchair by burling thomas jeffersons monticello. Jefferson, ever the student, was constantly studying. Lawyer, politician, hobby architect and prolific inventor, but more important true american pioneer, with succeeding in all that fields and more it is certainly required to have a keen passion for knowledge. How to make solid wood 1800s jeffersonian bookstand. The footprint, when closed is inches 33 cm square. The rough draft of the declaration of independence, in the hand of thomas jefferson with emendations by john adams and benjamin franklin, will be on display in the american treasures of the library of congress exhibition from june 16 through september 4. This entry was posted on tuesday, april 8th, 2014 at 4.
I recently built a replica of thomas jeffersons revolving book stand. The five sided rotating bookstand, now referred to as the thomas. Among his inventions which include a secret decoder ring of sorts, a travel version of a printing press and a macaronimaking machine is a book stand, designed to hold five opened books simultaneously. Jefferson, while an epicure, likely never used his revolving stand in the kitchen, as you might tags. Feb 20, 2016 jeffersons revolving bookstand a reproduction of a 5 book revolving book stand designed by thomas jefferson, circa 1810.
Season 28 episode 4 26m 46s video has closed captioning. Bob self, director of restoration, describes the history of the revolving bookstand and process of making. As luck would have it, both my sons attend ambrose, and my wife is a 4th grade teacher there, so it was a given that i would volunteer to build the project. Made of solid mahogany with a soft, handpolished finish, the rotating table top book stand holds five books at adjustable angles on rests that fold down to form a 12 cube. The four sides open and their inclination can be adjusted to any angle between 0 to 50 degrees. Bookstand is a linebyline reproduction of the original ingenious device found in thomas jefferson s cabinet, which was made in the joinery at monticello, probably from jefferson s own design.
Bookstand is a linebyline reproduction of the original ingenious device found in thomas jeffersons cabinet, which was made in the joinery at monticello, probably from jeffersons own design. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are. The sage of monticello based his fivesided bookstand on designs he found in paris. Tv guide the jeffersons june 2127 1975 srqmidcentury. Years ago i visited monticello and was impressed by the bookstand that thomas jefferson had designed for his library. Jefferson was the third president of the us, as well as a primary author of the declaration of independence. Nowadays, there are a multitude of solutions to drench that thirst, but around 1780 there was. This jefferson bookstand also makes a great display piece for. He needed to reference multiple sources, but found finding, opening and closing books cumbersome and. See more ideas about thomas jefferson, book stands and. Most of the construction looks normal but the unique swivel mechanism that is mentioned in all of the descriptions of the book stand has me puzzled. Thomas jeffersons revolving bookshelf invention synonym. This rotating book stand contraption, of his own invention, allowed him to quickly switch between 5 different open books and to satisfy his selfdescribed canine appetite for reading. The five sided rotating bookstand, now referred to as the thomas jefferson bookstand, could only make me wonder how curious and studious a man jefferson.
Reproductions of antiques thomas jeffersons writing desk i aural mahogany c0023. Our revolving bookstand is a line by line reproduction of the original, which was made in the joinery at monticello, probably from thomas jefferson s own design. One of our offerings is the jefferson book stand, found in monticello. Replica of thomas jeffersons bookstand woodworking. Holding five books at adjustable angles, it still suits for crosschecking information from several sources, keeping reference works in handy and allowing to instantly compare quote by. Etsy your place to buy and sell all things handmade. Ss founding fathers and the third president of the united states. Thomas jeffersons most popular book is the declaration of independence. While thomas jefferson was a youth, he made a pact with his best friend, dabney carr, that in the event of the death of either of them, the survivor would bury the other under a particular oak on a small mountain, a place jefferson called monticello. It has the capability of displaying five books, documents.
As many as five books or letters could be placed on it at a time. Jefferson may have conveniently placed it next to his chair in his readingandwriting arrangement in the cabinet. In thomas jefferson designed a revolving book stand that was made in the. Constructed of solid walnut, the cubeshaped stand has five adjustable rests for holding. The woodwrights shop thomas jeffersons bookstand season.
Thomas jeffersons revolving bookcase jefferson needed to reference multiple sources, but found finding, opening and closing books cumbersome and timewasting. Sep 5, 2012 how to make a thomas jefferson jeffersonian bookstand with. In order to bring the shelf vertical i installed a wooden two piece latch. The revolving book stand symbolizes jeffersons lifelong passion for books, and is yet another great contribution to historic craftsmanship. Reproduction revolving bookstand in the online monticello shop. Thomas jefferson supplied lists of recommended books in letters to robert skipwith 1 in 1771 and bernard moore 2 about the same time, to his nephew, peter carr, in 1785 3 and 1787, 4 to john minor 5 in 1814, and to several others. Jefferson may have conveniently placed it next to his chair in his readingandwriting arrangement in the. Thomas jefferson has 680 books on goodreads with 39934 ratings. Thomas jefferson kept to a relatively set daily routine over the course of his life. While he was born over 274 years ago, however, this holiday wasnt officially recognized by presidential proclamation until 1938 195 years after. All of the pictures just show a center shaft that the stand revolves around but nothing that i can detect as to how it functions without tipping from side to side. The 5 shelves are adjustable and it a folds down into a 12 cube. The original book stand is believed to have been built in the monticello joinery based on jeffersons drawings, and was constructed of solid walnut. I believe that the stand was placed in the parlor in the 1980s but was later moved to his study.
Several weeks ago we were asked to quote and build a thomas jefferson revolving book stand, by a parent at the ambrose school, as a class project for the schools annual auction. So, he invented this revolving book stand which allowed him to quickly and easily view five books with the spin of the wrist. Thomas jefferson revolving book stand latch finewoodworking. The general contour also foreshadows the concave easy chairs later made fashionable in america by. Library of congress displays thomas jeffersons rough. Thomas jefferson biography gateway arch national park u. Colonial williamsburg and fine woodworking are pleased to be joined by thomas jeffersons monticello to present the twelfth annual working wood in the 18th century conference at williamsburg during the week of january 20, 2010. Thomas jeffersons desk, 1776, one of numerous inventions jefferson devised for his own convenience, was designed in may 1776 and built by benjamin randolph, a. This revolving stand, once thought to be a music stand, was probably made to jeffersons design and specifications in the joiners shop on mulberry row.
Thomas jeffersons birthday in 20202021 when, where. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. Thomas jeffersons unique swivel mechanism finewoodworking. One can imagine him turning the stand, completely engrossed, consulting five books at once to find the answer to a burning question. For pricing information, please visit our pricing page. Thomas jefferson, ever the student, was constantly studying. Celebrated on april th every year, thomas jeffersons birthday is an observance and celebration of the birthday of one of the u. Jeffersons revolving bookstand a reproduction of a 5 book. Mahogany 16th century gothic book cabinet in medium cherry c0141b thomas jeffersons revolving bookstand in natural walnut c022.
The book stand was built at the monticello joinery shop, most likely by a slave named john hemings. This is a reproduction of the 5 sided bookstand that thomas jefferson designed and is on display at mt. I have been thinking of reproducing the thomas jeffersons revolving book stand. When assembled the hanging book shelf is about an inch from vertical at the bottom picture attached. How to make a thomas jefferson jeffersonian bookstand. Trove of thomas jeffersons books discovered dozens of books that once belonged to thomas jefferson have surfaced at washington university in st. Thomas jeffersons revolving book stand johnsonarts. Among his most famous inventions are the wheel cipher, the great clock, the sun dial, the moldboard plow of least resistance, a rotating book stand capable of holding 5 books, automatic double doors, the dumbwaiter elevator, a portable copying press, and the rotating, or swivel, chair. Jefferson book stand a monticello classic woodworking. This is a jeffersonian revolving book stand that is similar to that originally constructed and used by thomas jefferson at monticello. Trove of thomas jeffersons books discovered history. Thomas jefferson was in his day a prophet of american civil religion. This revolving stand, once thought to be a music stand, was probably made to jefferson s design and specifications in the joiners shop on mulberry row.
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