ROBERT ESTERLY Antiques Since 1974 Our Pages Home Restorations Reproductions Our History Currently Available Contact Us	Our History Robert Esterly apprenticed and trained under Franklin Rappold from 1971 to 1974. Since then he has been self-employed and in the furniture business for 32 years. Currently operating out of New Market, Maryland, he participates in community services and benefit programs in the community, as well as producing some of the finest restorations and reproductions in the area.

Accomplishments Throughout his career, Mr. Esterly has worked on several notable collections, both with Mr. Rappold, and independently. He performed contract work on "Special Collections" for Mt. Saint Mary's College, and has taught an adult education class, "Furniture Repairing and Refinishing," at Walkersville High School. Of note, in 1984 he was contracted to work on the collection of Dr. C. Ray Franklin in North Carolina (descendant of Benjamin Franklin), where he restored many impressive pieces, including the item to the right. This is a Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tambour Writing Desk and Bookcase, illustrated in the book, "Highly Important American Furniture Collection of Dr. C. Ray Franklin," October 1984. (For a better view of this piece, click here.)

In 1985, Mr. Esterly won a Nationwide Woodworking Contest, where he was cited in a national Shopsmith Magazine, the "Hands On" (No. 34, September/October, Page 8, No. 11). The Chippendale Card Table to the left was another extraordinary project that Mr. Esterly completed. Featured in "American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection" (Page 48, No. 16, Acc. No. 83.5), this piece was part of the Kaufman Americana Collection where it was shown in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1986 & 1987. (For a larger view of this piece of fine American furniture, click here.)

Robert Esterly was also featured in the "Income Opportunities" Magazine in June 1995, in an article entitled "An Ageless Craft" (Page 68). Along with the above notable works, he has been contracted to do work for several other well known individuals, including Senators Mathias and Smelser, and the Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He has been a member of the Craftspeople Guild of Frederick County, 1989. Currently, Mr. Esterly is a member of the Frederick Business Exchange, as well as a member of the Frederick County Art Association.