William Francis Brown       

          Fine Furniture Maker & Carver                  

                                                          

411  Mt. Haven Dr., Forest, VA  24551                 

Contact:  Dei.gratia123@gmail.com

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Professional Associations:  NH Guild of Furnituremakers;  Maine Woodworkers;  Society of American Period             Furniture Makers (SAPFM), Early  American Industries Assoc. (EAIA)

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Exhibitions:  Messler Gallery juried exhibition, Rockport, Maine – “Maine Wood” 2018, 2020; 2021

                       Virginia Academy Center of the Arts: "The Art of Craftsmanship - A Woodworker's  Perspective”,                                                Summer 2019                                                                                   

                     Society of American Period Furniture Makers exhibit – Thaddeus Stevens Academy, Lancaster, PA,                                                2016

                     NY City Select Artists Exhibit - ‘First in Show’ – Bellamy Eagle carving, 2008

                     Made the dining room furniture for Dolly and James Madison’s ‘Montpelior’ estate, Orange, VA – 2003

                     Historic Jamestown, VA - 2002, Built a ca.1760 ‘Strawbery Banke’ Dory - currently tied to the ‘Susan                                   B. Constant’ in Jamestown Harbour                                                           

                     Exhibitor:  The Curtis Gallery, Camden, Maine

                     Exhibitor: ‘The Windsor Chairmakers’ Gallery, Lincolnville, ME

                     Solo exhibit and talk on Bellamy eagles and my work: Pickler Gallery   May-July 2022; Camden, ME

                     Krise Gallery – Lynchburg, VA    Nov-Dec. 2024

                                        

   Awards:   International Veneer Challenge 2018:  “Federal Game Table”

                        Popular Woodworking Editor’s Choice award – 2017: ‘Sheraton Tea Caddy’

                        Popular Woodworking Excellence Award – First place, 2015; ‘Chester County Bible Box’

                        ‘Best in Wood’ International Competition – Winner, Woodworking Network, Chicago, 2018

                        Early American Life Magazine – Awarded ‘Master Craftsman’ in two categories: Carving and Furniture;

                                   Consecutive  years : 2018 - 2025

                        Horton Brasses ‘Furniture Excellence’ competition – winner 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021: 

 

 Articles:

• Fine Woodworking Magazine Gallery – William & Mary Chest-on-frame, 2018

• Woodwork Magazine – ‘Natural Windsor Chair’, 2002

• Feature article on Windsor chairmaking – “Chairman of the Board”; Richmond Times

•              Dispatch, 2004

• Article for Highland Woodworking Magazine:  ‘Bellamy Eagle Carving’  2016

• American Period Furniture (Society of American Period Furniture Makers annual journal), article:    “Making a Serpentine Drawer”, 2020 Annual Edition

• Woodshop News – Article on my ‘Maine Coast Workshop’ classes, April 2020

• Popular Woodworking Magazine - Article on my ‘Maine Coast Workshop’ woodworking & carving classes,   

                  May, 2020:New Woodworking School Opening In Maine | Popular Woodworking Magazine                 

• Popular Woodworking  interview:  New Woodworking School Opening In Maine | Popular Woodworking Magazine

• Rare Woods USA ‘The Woodworker Sessions’:  Woodworker Sessions - Rare Woods USA - William Francis Brown

• Highland Woodworking Magazine;  Article:  “A Lifetime of Fine Furniture from Wm. Francis Brown, May, 2021

• American Period Furniture Magazine, 2021 Annual – Article: ‘Making an American Icon: Thomas Jefferson’s  1776 lap desk’

• SAPFM “Pins & Tails” Magazine article:  “Making Striped Moldings”;  June 2021

• SAPFM "Pins and Tails" online magazine article: 'Honing for Woodworking & Carving Tools'

 

 

     Featured videos of my shop and work: “Wood & Shop Magazine”

• “William Francis Brown’s Incredible Furniture;  Workshop Tour;

•           Wood and Shop; Aug., 2020

• Wood & Shop: “Jaw-dropping shop tour”: Workshop Tour: Carver &

•         18th Century Furniture Maker William Brown |March 2021

 

Social media:  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/williamfrancisbrown/
Furniture & Carving Website:  www.LineAndBerry.com

Solo guitar:   https://www.youtube.com/c/WilliamBrownGuitar

 

Brief Biographical information  (see more here)

   My furniture and carvings are hand made at my small shop in the Blue Ridge Mountains of rural Virginia. 

   I grew up in on a tree farm in historic Willistown Township in Chester County, PA  and served a two year apprenticeship with E. Townsend Moore, a cabinetmaker who had been a curator at Dupont's Wintertur Estate and Museum outside Wilmington, Delaware.  He had learned from Robert Treat Hogg who was part of the two centuries long legacy of Chester County fine furniture makers.   The makers of Chester County developed a unique style that stemmed largely from the 17th century Welsh Quaker settlers.  Certain design features that I incorporate include ‘line-and-berry’ holly inlay, framed panels, spice and Bible boxes, and use of local Chester Co. hardwoods.  The woods include the abundant Cherry, Maple, and Walnut which I use almost exclusively.  The Philadelphia makers, two hours carriage ride to the East, were producing some of the finest furniture in the world.  That tradition has been another strong influence on my work. 

        I've been making and learning about period furniture and carving for over 40 years. My pieces have been selected for museums and historic sites, including James Madison's Montpelior and Historic

Jamestown.  I have won numerous international competitions and exhibit in galleries on the East coast.
 

 

 Rather than exact precise duplications, I prefer to make what I call 'historically informed' pieces.  Unless requested by a museum, my furniture incorporates design elements and joinery inspired by historic

precedents.  I have developed my own line-and-berry designs for example.  I love to scour museum archives and study originals for ideas:  patterns, moldings, inlay designs, proportions, etc.  I enjoy sketching details of the Chester County pieces I see in homes and exhibits in my childhood home area.  A trained eye is critical to how I design a piece; the result is inspired by 18th century ideas but will be truly one of a kind.

    In addition to my furniture making, for over 12 years I have been carving original folk carvings with a focus on Bellamy style eagles and other Early American motifs.  Most of my carvings are one-offs that will never be repeated, making them valuable to collectors and other owners as an invenstment that will only gain value. I have sold these carvings to collectors, architects, businesses, and homeowners all over the world.

   

 

  In 2016 I began teaching students at my Maine Coast Workshop in the historic seaside village of Camden, Maine.   My wish was to ensure that these arts will not be lost to our technical age.  It was a a longtime dream to start a woodworking, carving, and traditional arts school.  My vision was to bring young people (and students of all ages), who often have little chance to work creatively with their hands, opportunities to learn from world class masters.  During the time I ran the school, I was able to provide full tuition scholarships to young folk and  military veterans who showed motivation and interest.  After 8 years of running the school we chose to relocate full-time to rural Virginia in 2024 where I could devote my full time and attention to producing museum quality carvings and furniture.

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Testimonials: Click here

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