Early New Mexican Furniture

Book excerpt: For more than forty years Dr Ward Alan Minge and his wife Shirley combed the antique and used furniture stores throughout New Mexico to amass one of the most remarkable private collections of early New Mexico furniture ever assembled. Along with an extensive collection of farm and domestic tools and equipment, it was housed in Casa San Ysidro, the colonial rancho they lovingly restored in Corrales, New Mexico, and for years served scholars and students as a font of information regarding life in colonial New Mexico. In 1997 the home and collection were turned over to the Albuquerque Museum, and in the future both will be open only to small groups on a limited access basis. Here, for the first time, are photographs and dimensioned drawings of thirty-six of the collection's finest examples of early colonial carpintero craftsmanship along with drawings of fifteen authentic design details to help artisans faithfully recreate these classic pieces. This book will be a welcome addition for anyone interested in the evolution of New Mexico furniture design, and particularly for furniture makers anxious to create a timeless heirloom whose design and proportions will be true to the original.