Restored c. 1900 Workbench

Found in the mountains of North Carolina, this workbench was probably around 100-150 years old, made of oak and likely mahogany or cherry. Its rich, dark colors are a natural result of applying various oils, as wood that has been drying for decades or even centuries will darken more dramatically than wood from newly cut trees when oil is applied. This workbench was restored in 2019, and has been periodically refinished and planed. I used it to build my first three violins, and used it for various violin restoration projects, but it was sold to a friendly young couple in early 2026. It is straddled by two young redwood slabs, which I sanded, planed, scraped and finished.