From the artist: “When we were approached about building a set of benches for the Levi Fisher Ames exhibit at the Art Preserve, we asked ourselves, ‘What would Levi Fisher Ames have built?’ Ames was a carpenter before his career as a showman so he certainly would have had the skills and knowledge to build them himself. We looked at the surviving objects known to have been made by LFA, including the trunks that carried the contents of his traveling exhibit as well as the painted, wood and glass vitrines that protected his elaborately carved figurines.

We also researched other bench forms made during the same time period which would have served a similar purpose, such as those from carnivals and tent revivals. In the end we settled on a what’s known as a Five Board Bench made from white pine. These would have been light weight, portable and relatively simple to construct, but also durable enough to withstand regular use. We included a few decorative flourishes in keeping with the carnival atmosphere of the traveling road show.

A few notable period details are the x-wedged through-tenons which are faintly visible through the milk-paint finish on the bench tops, the use of steel cut-nails, and the half dovetail where the apron joins with the leg. We opted not to do any faux aging, but instead used a period appropriate milk-paint finish. This somewhat vulnerable finish will show wear over time, revealing the contrasting red undercoat.”