An Apology of a Sort

Today, I was on the receiving end of some cranky phone calls from disgruntled interior design professionals representing the two national interior design/decorating trade organizations. They were upset about my post concerning the polishing plane. They felt it mocked and diminished their profession.

The controversial polishing plane.

It seems that in 2011 both organizations independently voted to replace the antique bicycle horn with the wooden jack plane as the decorative item to be artistically placed on a stack of slightly worn copies of either Garden & Gun Magazine or Architectural Digest depending on the client’s age, region and party affiliation.

The now disgraced antique bicycle horn.

Other planes were approved for specific situations. Coffin smoothers are to be used with smaller hardcover books.

Technically a toothing plane but the size, shape and color are as specified for a smoother. Actual function of the plane is unimportant.

Jointer planes are to be used with stacks of coffee table books.

Single iron planes preferred but not required.

Obscure or foreign books require similar obscure, foreign planes.

Once again, form over function. A newer plane is acceptable.

The felt on the bottom of the plane is meant to preserve the cover of the chosen magazine in the event the client chooses to have them bound into annual volumes.

This seldom happens but the pretext of preservation is important.

If that blog offended you, I apologize.