Reproduction of Ebony Drawer Pulls from Culbertson Cabinet Restoration

©johnipekjian2021 all phtots/text

 

By: Jack Ipekjian

Original Drawer Pull

The large breakfront cabinet that I restored for the Culbertson House has nine drawers in its center section. The turned drawer pulls are made of ebony with oak inlay and are nicely carved with a wrapped ribbon motif. Of those nine, four pulls were missing and had been replaced with pulls made of pine, painted black, and lacked the carving or inlay.

Non-original pine pulls

I gladly accepted the task of reproducing the four missing pulls.

The Process

The original pulls are affixed to the drawers with a machine screw which is hidden from the front by the inlay. This made it pretty easy to attach the blanks to the faceplate and also for when it came time to do the carving. 

I performed much of the shaping of the ribbon with small riffler files (some of which actually belonged to Charles Greene). 

Next I carved the oak plugs.

After the carving, I mounted the pulls back in the wood lathe, gave them a polish with steel wool, and then put some finish on them.

Here is the original with my four reproductions

And here they are installed and back home.