Hi Freddy
The names mentioned by mbholden I think would be outstanding speakers, of witch I ,myself would enjoy setting in. In fact, the SAPFM group is a well of remarkable period craftsmen/women. But, if I may make a suggestion, and by no means with any disrespect or offence , the one mystery, the one major hole in the bucket dipping in to this well of knowledge is the lack of period finishing. I believe you are on the east coast, correct me if I'm mistaken, but, you are in the hart of some of the finest finishers in the country. The people you are looking for don't have advertising, don't look for work, work finds them. Museums, high end antique dealers, and maybe some of the well known auction houses know of them. And in fact, I know of a few in your area that are members of the group, they just don't respond to the forum very often, if at all. Yes I could name a few, but with out their permission, I'm not sure they would not be too happy with me. If you talk to your group, its my bet, the one part of period furniture that they are most uncomfortable/ unsure of is, making their project look like the real thing. The task I speak of may not be accomplished in one lecture, but one has to turn the crank to get the bucket to the top.
Respectfully
Randy
