John Buttsworth specialises in Australian Cedar Furniture

 

I was one of Australia’s pioneer cedar collectors. Beginning in 1967, I had a clearence auction in 1976, and then in 1987 my collection was auctioned by Sotheby’s (as part of a divorce settlement), and described as the most extensive cedar furniture collection to ever go to auction. Pieces were bought by collectors and museums Australian wide. I also wrote a book, Australian Colonial Furniture (Colonial Living Press 1987, 140pp, 62 colour plates) that is a Guidebook to understanding and dating Australian Antique Furniture. It is now out of print and a collector’s item in it own right with copies changing hands for around $200.

 

Subsequently I was commissioned by an investor/collector to put together another even more extensive collection, which had me buying some of the best examples of cedar furniture available throughout the late 80’s and 90’s.

 

As a result of almost 40 years of buying cedar furniture I am well known to the major auction houses and have an extensive network for seeking-out colonial furniture. The CEO of Christies, Roger McIlroy is quoted in The Australian as saying, “Buttsworth makes irregular forays into the saleroom to buy the best.”

 

Now semi-retired, I am introducing investment quality cedar antiques to up-and-coming collectors. From me you are assured every piece is really cedar - and original, complete and in beautiful condition. I don’t have a warehouse-full, or stock-of cedar. rather, I am on the look-out for good original pieces, and offer them for auction as I find and

restore, them.

 

PHOTO John Buttsworth 2006

PHOTO Winning The Australian Furniture Design Award in 1986 for the range of Colonial inspired cedar furniture he designed. Note the six legged cedar sideboard in the background

 

PHOTO John Buttsworth’s book Australian Colonial Furniture was published in 1987 and now is out of print and a collectors item. Copies sell for around $200

PHOTO John Buttsworth’s Antique Gallery, Drummoyne, Sydney 1984 – 1989

PHOTOS John Buttsworth’s Auction of Australian Antiques, November 1976. This 1976 auction included the first piece of cedar collected – the draw-leaf cedar dining table, circa 1835 (top left), with tulip carved and reeded legs, purchased in 1967. Also some Classic Colonial cedar chairs, an Early Colonial Chiffonier with a Classic Grecian backboard, turned pilasters and bun feet, circa 1835; and a grand cedar gentleman’s chair circa 1845.

      The auction of over 600 lots also included gold rush Australiana and woodworking hand-tools for furniture making (opposite). Of particular interest is the pit saw (top) used to cut logs with the grain – into planks. The log was mounted over a hole dug in the ground about 7 foot deep. Two sawyers worked together, one standing on the log (the top notcher), and the other working below, in the pitts.

Photos John Buttsworth’s Australian Colonial Furniture Auction Sotheby’s 1st November 1987

PHOTO The pride of his collection – the set of ten Classic Colonial cedar chairs in situ in his then dining room in Balmain. Two of the chairs bear the trade label of Whitsides & Son, Hobart. Thanks to the research of Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson this enables the chairs to dated to about 1860. Individual chairs from the set are illustrated in Australian Colonial Furniture, page 26, Australian Antiques, First Fleet to Federation, page 45, and Nineteenth Century Australian Furniture, page 311.

This photo is from Historic Places in Australia, Volume Two, page 22, and is shown courtesy of The Australian Council of National Trusts.