Walnut Architectural Models

Compagnonnage is the French tradition in which a future builder, after several years of apprenticeship with a master, completes a tour de France (or sometimes, as is often the case with woodworkers, of Germany) to pursue further expertise and knowledge of the craft. At the end of each stop on this tour the apprentice completes a work reflecting his skill level. Typically, these were collected by antiquarians, architects and historians of architecture and design. Works of compagnonnage were brought into the spotlight by Bill Blass, who collected beautiful model staircases and whose home was much admired. The Cooper-Hewitt Museum hosted an exhibition of masterful examples, and further illuminated the process of apprenticeship: “Compagnonnage, meaning “group of companions,” is a type of design practice that combined formal study with practical training from masters. Apprentices honed their skills in a workshop during the day, taking courses in the art of geometrical drawing and design in the evening, living together in a boarding house. First, concepts were taught, then the handiwork, both of which became increasingly sophisticated…At each stage of the learning process (acceptance, reception, mastership), apprentices created models, leading them to become masters of their craft and design.” We have never seen a model of revolving doors...

This is a superb quality fruitwood architectural model of a spiral staircase, by Theodore Alexander, of early 19th Century design, comprising ten steps and spiral bannister with two ...

Beautiful Walnut Vintage Mid Century Slat Bench and Coffee table. This beautiful vintage piece is iconic mid-century as it is c...

This is wonderfully carved mahogany staircase. It is an 8 step staircase with fine turned wood vertical landing and banister supports, ball barrel p...

Walnut staircase model England Circa 1890 Beautifully made spiral staircase, likely created by an apprentice woodworker as proof of concept for their design. Measures: 28.25...

A spectacular and finely executed Marquette of Giotto's famous campanile in Florence, Italy. This carved and reticulated walnut model of the bell tower has mirrored inserts and remai...

Early 19th century cast iron and walnut cobblers last / boot form Wonderful old school American walnut and cast iron cobblers tool. These were made to make and repair boots. A ...

Very fine early 19th century Tunbridgeware architectural model of a chapel which also serves as a jewelry chest and dressing mirror, the diamond tiled roof in ebony and sycamore, the front with micro-mosaic rose window over Gothic inlaid door with mother of pearl and mixed woods, the door opening to reveal four kingwood drawers with bone knobs, the reverse having identical door revealing a the original beveled mercury glass dressing mirror, the whole expertly worked to an exacting standard. Tunbridge ware is a form of decoratively inlaid woodwork, typically in the form of boxes, that is characteristic of Tonbridge and the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent in the 18th and 19th centuries. The decoration typically consists of a mosaic of many very small pieces of different colored woods that form a pictorial vignette. Shaped rods and slivers of wood were first carefully glued together, then cut into many thin slices of identical pictorial veneer with a fine saw. Elaborately striped and feathered bandings for framing were pre-formed in a similar fashion. There is a collection of Tunbridge ware in the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery in Tunbridge Wells.[1 While Tunbridge ware boxes...

A very impressive example of an Italian Grand Tour inlaid marble and bronze mounted architectural element modeled after a classical early Roman Temple, last half of the 19th century...

Very fine carved walnut architectural model of a Greco-Roman temple, with hinged lid and column fronted doors, circa 1840, each row of columns either hinged or removable, possibly ma...

Standing 20.5 inches tall this Italian model of a temple fragment or ruin features a corner with four fluted Corinthian columns with bronze capitals ...

A elegant French 19th century model staircase in walnut. The copper spindles decorated with walnut rings reflecting the bobin turned bases. The stairway sweeping curve standing in pe...

A large early 20th century Italian walnut lay model. Beautifully constructed and with great patina. This mannekin is fully functioning and in great condition.

A brown, antique walnut spiral staircase decor with Classic design with numerous steps and flat baluster supports on a square base, in a herringbone pattern, in good condition. Miniature staircase...

Elegant 19th century model of a staircase in walnut. The quality of this piece suggests that it was made as a master proof for the so called Compagnonnage or Carpenters Guild which w...