Putting the Pieces Together
Gluers are among the first craftsmen to handle cut furniture pieces. They start with a pile of parts. Slowly, painstakingly, they glue and assemble the parts to form a “carcass.” The carcass is delivered to the next cabinetmaker. A single Kittinger cabinetmaker builds one piece of furniture at a time from beginning to end. Starting with the carcass he will fit drawers, hang doors and apply molding before the labor intensive act of sanding to perfection.

Details Make the Difference
Every detail speaks of quality craftsmanship. For example, in keeping with 18th century cabinet–making techniques, drawers are flush–fit, with bead moldings applied by hand. Each drawer is individually planed and hand–fitted to draw smoothly. Hardware is made of hand–cast solid brass. Dust panels are placed in the drawers of every desk so when the bottom drawer is pulled out, the floor beneath the desk is not visible.

Individually, such details may seem minute. But collectively, they create a piece of furniture that mirrors the sophistication of its makers. The Kittinger Furniture Company takes great pride in its apprenticeship program for carvers, cabinetmakers, finishers and upholsterers. Apprentices begin by learning techniques for sanding, fitting, and joining. Initially, they may gain experience by working on a chair or small table. Apprentices work alongside master craftsmen so over time, the apprentice will learn to perform more difficult tasks such as fitting drawers, hanging doors and applying moldings. It is a great achievement to be able to work on an elaborate piece – to perhaps assemble an executive desk.

Approaching the Finish Line
Once a piece of furniture is fully assembled, it is carefully sanded to embolden the grain. On any piece to be finished with stain, the inlays are “striped” or brushed with clear sealer to prevent them from absorbing the stain’s dark coloring. Assembled and striped, the furniture is ready for finishing.

Working One on One
A different craftsman is responsible for each step of finishing. This specialization ensures a quality finish to every Kittinger piece. Consistency is key. When finishing dining room tables or two–piece cabinets, the leaves are installed and cabinet components are fitted together to ensure uniform shading from table to leaf, from top to base.

Multiple Steps to Finishing
When a fully assembled piece arrives at the Finishing Department, its journey has just begun. It may take as much as 50 hours of handwork and as long as three weeks to finish.

The Kittinger Furniture Company’s elaborate finishing process can require as many as 21 steps.

Finishing demands a discerning eye and years of experience. Kittinger craftsmen carefully prepare surfaces to reveal the wood’s full depth and character. Wood is rubbed with steel wool and sandpaper to highlight cathedrals and swirls in the mahogany grain.

Custom Designed Shine
While many of finishes are available, every finish can be categorized as either open– or closed–pore. Open–pore finishes are satiny, while closed–pore finishes have a glossier look. To create a closed–pore finish, the wood’s pores are covered with a paste filler and then wiped clean. The surface is then protected with a sealer.

After several coats of sealer are applied and sanded, the surface is padded with a variety of alcohol stains. Kittinger experts blend red, blue, orange and brown stains to sharpen contrasts and add depth and patina. Three coats of lacquer provide the final protection. Thorough drying time and sanding are required between coats. After the final coat has dried, the lacquered finish is rubbed with pumice, ground wax and oil to remove imperfections and bring out the shine.

All the trimmings
Lighting may be custom–designed to illuminate glass–enclosed display cabinets. Dozens of tiny museum lights are wired and placed into a wood strip, which is then discreetly housed in the cabinet, casting a subtle glow on the treasures inside. The glass is hand–cut and hand–glazed into mitered, mullioned doors, pane by pane.

The Final Inspection
Before a piece leaves the plant, it is thoroughly inspected to ensure that drawers slide with perfect smoothness, locks and hinges work with ease, and the finish is flawless. Upholstery is inspected as well, focusing on features such as welting, tacking, cushioning and the fall of the skirt on a chair or sofa. If even the smallest feature fails to meet Kittinger’s strict standards, the piece is routed back to the proper department for correction.

Special Treatments
It is not always desirable for a piece to look new. The Kittinger Furniture Company aims to reproduce the finishes of fine 18th and 19th century furnishings with historical accuracy.

Aging to Perfection
When creating an ancient or antique finish, the wood must be aged before the stain is applied. Corners and edges are sanded to replicate the time–softened look of an original
period chair or table. The surface of an antiqued piece may be physically marred, glazed
and highlighted, then color–distressed. “Ancient” pieces may be scraped or marred with
stones, chains and awls at the points where the surface would naturally wear the most. A “crackle” surface may be created by spraying on a special clear lacquer that cracks to appear aged.

The Allure of Gold
Gold–leafing, a delicate art, can be used to enhance beautiful details on table tops, cabinets, chair legs and mirror frames. This ancient process has been performed at The Kittinger Furniture Company since the late 1940s. Square sheets of gold leaf are affixed by hand and then varnished. Covering a tabletop can take hundred of leaves of gold.

Gold–tooled or blind–embossed leather tabletops or desks are crafted to meet customers’
specifications. Hides are selected for durability and cut and applied by hand. A combination of tooling wheels are used to create delicate designs on the leather and to
adorn its edge.

Myriad Options
Many Kittinger pieces are also available in pale–toned, washed finishes. The wood is sanded, shaded, lacquered and lightly distressed. Customers may also choose from decorative faux finishes.

As an extra service, The Kittinger Furniture Company has the ability to custom–match a finish to customers’ specifications. Craftsmen can color and shade a new Kittinger piece to match a family heirloom, an antique, or a previously made piece of Kittinger furniture.

Leather and Fabric
Though Kittinger is known for its fine wood finishes, its upholstering is no less exceptional.
Many pieces require reproduction of upholstering materials and techniques that were used
more than 200 years ago. Materials must frequently be hand sewn. Hundreds of tacks must be individually placed by hand.

The frames of Kittinger’s upholstered furniture are constructed of solid maple, ideal because of its durability and good retention of upholstery tacks. Fabric or leather upholstery is cut to match the shape of the furniture frame. Exposed wood surfaces are typically made of mahogany to complement the fabric or leather.

The Secret of Comfortable Seating
Once the frame of a chair or sofa has been assembled, coiled springs are embedded in the
seat for support. Springs are interlocked and hand–tied in eight ways to add strength and ensure comfort.

The springs are then covered with as many as six layers of cushioning. A selection of cushions – including a variety of down and feather combinations – are available for most seats, pillows and trimmings.

The Finishing Touch
Hand–applied brass–nail trim, diamond tufting, optional antiquing and other details may be selected to customize a chair or sofa.

Superb Detailing and Precision Craftsmanship
Kittinger Furniture’s timeless designs pay tribute to the past while building a precious legacy for the future. From blue–prints, to final inspection, skilled attention to the smallest of details is what makes each piece of furniture a masterpiece. The Kittinger Furniture Company’s fine craftsmanship has endured for more than a century, and is poised to continue for many generations to come.