This is the Roubo Bookstand. Here is the Wikipedia entry for Andre Roubo.
André Jacob Roubo was a French cabinetmaker and author. The son and grandson of Master Cabinetmakers, he earned that designation in 1774 through the publication of his masterwork treatise on woodworking.
He wrote a highly influentialcomplete treatise on woodworking that covers practically all the associated trades. This multi-volume work, L'Art du Menuisier (The Art of the Joiner), published between 1769 and 1774 by the Académie des Sciences, contains sections and illustrations on: building carpentry, furniture making, and precious woodworking (ébénisterie), carriage making, and garden woodworking.
The book stand was featured in a plate in his treatise, and is one of the many things popular in the woodworking world today. Roy Underhil spent an episode of The Woodwright's Shop showing us how to build one, and he wrote an article in an issue of Popular Woodworking about it.
I was intimidated at the thought of making this. It is a single board (3/4" pine, in this case), in which the pivot hinge is carved out, and then the board is sawn through its width, separating the leaves. If this sounds unintelligible, and I'm sure it does, then watch The Woodwright's Shop.
Take my word for it though: Don't be intimidated by it. Its not as hard as it looks or sounds. And I think it makes a wonderful gift.
I tried adding some age to this new pine. Finishing is my least favorite part of the job, well, except maybe for any sanding that needs to be done. But I'm happy with how the finish turned out. Basically, its orange shellac, a dark gel stain, and the dark Briwax.
AMDG
