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Smoothing Plane
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This
tool is an important part of the Lee Valley collection and an
excellent example of a German, Austrian or perhaps even Scandinavian
smoothing plane. The style can be traced back to the early 16th
century; German artist Albrecht Dürer depicted a similar
plane in the engraving Melancholia, dated 1514. However,
this plane is not of that age, which we know because the maker
stamped it with the year 1810. At 7" long, it gives a 1-3/4"
cut and has a slightly curved sole from front to back. Perhaps
it was a scrub plane or a cooper's plane? We have no idea about
its ultimate use. The plane is constructed from some type of
fruitwood. The carved horn is exquisitely dovetailed into the
body, which has been decorated with gouge cuts, fluting and
an abundance of stamped decoration. The mouth escapement is
carved in a cupid's bow. In short, this plane personifies the
maker, who not only took the time to decorate it, but also included
the date of manufacture. This, along with the evidence that
the plane has been ravaged by some type of insect, brings up
two issues that have become more common in the tool and antique
world in the last 25 years.
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The
first issue has to do with authenticity. Since the dismantling
of the Eastern Bloc, a large group of decorated and date-stamped
tools and other items for sale have been shipped to North America
from middle and Eastern Europe. In some cases, the style of
carving and its apparent recentness forces the question about
the antiquity of some of the tools and other objects. This has
been the case, to a degree, with goose-wing axes. There is no
reason to think that the same could not be done with wooden
items. If a Rembrandt painting can be faked, so can a simple
woodworking tool. (That's not to say that making artistic reproductions
for public consumption is not a respectable business for many.)
However, this tool has almost certainly not been reproduced.
It came from a private collector who obtained it from Europe
and retained sole possession of it for more than 35 years until
Lee Valley acquired it more than 10 years ago. Therefore, there
is a verifiable trail of the tool's history for at least 50
years of its 200-year history. Additionally, the original cost
of the plane was quite modest, so it seems reasonable to think
that a seller would not invest the time to recreate such an
article for such a small profit. |
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