Walnut, c. 1870 by auntietk
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Description
Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. Early 1870s. Walnut trees growing alongside the river made the job easier. Walnut is a hard, tight-grained wood, and having an abundant supply right there was a boon.
The new courthouse needed a three-story staircase, and the architect wanted it to say something. He wanted drama. Something imposing. There would be no central support. The entire staircase was to be cantilevered.
Local stone, local wood ... the Chase County Courthouse comes straight from its environment.
Those walnut trees would have been felled about a hundred and forty years ago, and the building was complete and open for business in 1873. I've postworked this image in such a way that I hope it emphasizes the great age of the wood, and the sense that many people have climbed these stairs.
I'll be showing you more of this staircase later ...
Comments (27)
Faemike55
I've worked with walnut before. You're right! it is not an easy wood to work with, but once you've finished, you have something beautiful Great capture, Tara
MrsRatbag
So very beautiful! I love your signature softness on this warm wood... wonderful compo and capture!
Iceshark39
The grain of the wood is really beautiful.
PaisleyRose
The workmanship in those days was amazing. They always did work they could be proud of. That quality is gone these days. Beautiful image.
Mayalin
Beautiful wood, beautiful craftsmanship, beautiful image. Thank you for sharing the history of the staircase with us also.
bazza
Very beautiful image lovely wood and wood work great shot!!
jocko500
the wood looks very good. this is a wonderful shot
bmac62
The construction crew must have had a big sawmill operation close by...how very different from today!!! Love the treatment of the Walnut wood in your photo...rich, rich, rich.
beachzz
What a wonderful shot of this old staircase; the wood fairly gleams with its own light.
wysiwig
I love the patina of old wood. Notice the straight grain and the lack of knot holes. Just beautiful. I once lived in an apartment built in the 1920s and the moldings and cabinetry were all made from this type of clear wood. PaisleyRose is partly correct. The quality is still there but only for the wealthy. The wood is so rare and there are so few true craftspersons that it costs thousands of dollars to purchase this type of quality and workmanship.
cfulton
Strong and sturdy, worth its weight in gold - quite literally I am sure. Well cared for and loved, Clive
jayfar
Beautiful bit of carpentry shown off by a great shot.
helanker
What a wonderful piece of woodwork. Wonderful warm colors on the wood. Excellent shot Tara. Perhaps I should let our big walnut tree cut down... for use :-D
awjay
super shot....wonderful wood
durleybeachbum
An outstanding pic, Tara, it makes me want to stroke the wood.
DananJaya_Chef
Wonderful capture.
KateBlack10
Beautiful shot - really shows the beauty of the wood
debbielove
The beauty of wood... Lovely isn't it.. This close-up shows it to full effect... Stunning! Well caught Tara.. Rob
Katraz
A beautiful bit of workmanship makes you want to touch it.
npauling
A lovely capture of this beautiful staircase and the walnut looks so rich and luxuriant.
babuci
Just imagine the squeaking sound...'melody' to the ears. Wonderful triangle compo and a caracter of this step is super what shows through your picture. Good job.
Chipka
Your postwork is so subtle that I wouldn't have suspected ANY postwork at all, had you not said anything. Needless to say, you've captured and you bring out the wonderful craftsmanship of this staircase and the venerable grace it's achieved with age. I love the warmth of this image, the sturdy elegance. Yep, it's a frikkin' good piece of photographic art!
RodS
Beautiful photo, Tara! It really does add a lot of character to that staircase - which I have climbed :-D Really a beautiful old building!
Ra3vyn
Absolutely beautiful wood, you've done a marvellous job subtly drawing our attention to it especially. Well done! :)
Merrylee
Beautiful staircase...got some pieces of walnut wood that my husband took when his mother died...nice wood
emmecielle
Excellent details! :)
Myel
Original idea and excellent image!