From the Bench: Making history

A man by the name of Leonard Butler set out to recreate a wood working piece called the Jefferson lap desk. This piece would set out to inspire all kinds of wood makers to learn about the history behind the original piece. Jefferson designed the original piece and used it for some fifty years even while he was in France. Leonard Butler ended up donating the replica to the NBSS so they can use it to instruct students.

Key Takeaways:

• One woodworker found himself remarkably invested when he recreated a lap desk used by Thomas Jefferson.
• Jefferson used the lap desk to write the Declaration of Independence, and it is now in a museum.
• After recreating the piece, the woodworker didn’t know what to do with it.

“Every once in a while, a project from Fine Woodworking takes a reader on a journey that they didn’t quite expect.”

Read more: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2020/07/02/from-the-bench-making-history