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High End Furniture
Wood dust in the stratosphere The air is thin at the top, up where you need supplemental oxygen to breathe. Where the price of the furniture could be easily confused with the price of the home. There are few serious customers at this level, and even fewer furniture manufacturers. At this level it is the details that justify the price tag. Like a Ferrari Enzo or a Bugatti Veyron, very high end furniture is produced one at a time by craftsmen who think of their work as art and pass their skills from generation to generation.
... The weekend at your castle, what a nice invitation. I pause to admire the Renoir in the entryway, then retire to my room before dinner to freshen up. A gentle breeze from the open window quietly moves the curtains. The view to the valley below is stunning but when I look straight down the height makes me dizzy. I walk over to the Waterford armoire facing the bed and pause a moment to see the waning evening light play over the finish. It is deep and clear. I can't resist. I pull the top drawer all the way out and turn it over. I usually look at drawers first because it's where many manufacturers cut corners. Whoa... this one has an impressive level of craftsmanship and detail. The bottom is made of beveled solid wood. The edges are blocked for extra strength and the corners themselves are dovetailed together with a fine fit that leaves no gaps or cracks. Someone spent a lot of time on this one drawer. I'm the only guest in this wing so no one will hear me pull the armoire away from the wall to admire the back. And admire is a good choice of words. For this back panel looks nicer than what I see on the front of much high end furniture these days. I still have the drawer out so I reach deep inside the armoire between the dustcover and run my fingers along the edges near the back. This is a dark, hidden place no one ever sees except the craftsman who made the furniture. Leave this kind of test to the professionals, it's a great way to get a splinter. Not with the Waterford though. No doubt about it. The craftsman who made this cared about details they knew no one else might ever see. The drawer glides back into place. A satisfying feel. I'm interrupted by a gentle but firm knock on the door. Your butler no doubt. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Ching's mission statement for the company can be summed up as: "how much pleasure will a reproduction provide its owners, not just today, but for generations to come?" They are not reproducing just the style though, their goal is to create an original that is true to the construction, style and essence of fine 18th century furniture. Their attention to detail is reflected in an exclusive 13-step French Polish which gives each item a rich patina and unique character. The collection includes more than 200 pieces.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got a note from Joan Karges Rogier of Karges that I'd like to pass on to my readers. "... we want you to know Karges is made in the good old USA by fantastic American craftsmen. Our seating is imported, primarily from Italy, as it has been for 40+ years, but our casegoods are made here in Evansville, Ind. We hope that never changes!" Amen |
I don't impress easily. Gold fixtures in your mountain chalet... so what? Jim and Tammy Baker had those. Monet and Pissarro paintings in the
entryway... nice... but sleazy mafia criminals steal those all the time for their homes. Waterford furniture in the guest room? Now that's classy!
The story of Burton-Ching is unique in the world of 18th century reproductions. Their president, Sen Ching is a master furniture craftsman. He learned the art of furniture making as an apprentice and honed his talents restoring and repairing fine antiques.
They call themselves "The Last Great American Furniture Company." Karges
makes formal French furniture for the very discriminating buyer. Prices are in line with their heirloom quality, limited distributorship and fine design.