3-Day Wood Identification Workshop with Randy Wilkinson
Pricing: Fee: $675 (Historic Deerfield members get a 15% discount with the code DFclass)
We are pleased to share this exciting, intensive educational program designed to appeal to participants with an interest in American decorative arts—including collectors, appraisers, curators, furniture enthusiasts, or anyone seeking in-depth knowledge.
This focused, three-day program, running March 27–29, 2026 at the Deerfield Community Center is designed to familiarize participants with the physical properties of wood. Participants will learn how to confidently identify up to 19 common species used in American furniture and decorative arts using just a 10x loupe. No prior experience is required.
Please note: This program is run by Randy Wilkinson. Please visit his website for more information or to register.
https://www.fallonwilkinson.com/event/wood-id-workshop-historic-deerfield-2026/
A Rare Hands-On Experience
A core part of this workshop involves leveraging the unique setting of Historic Deerfield. Participants will apply new skills by working directly with objects from the museum’s collection to practice wood identification, including special curator-guided tours of the galleries at the Wright House and the ongoing restoration at the Stebbins House.
Registration Details
Dates: March 27–29, 2026
Capacity: Space is limited to 15 students.
Fee: $675 (Historic Deerfield members get a 15% discount with the code DFclass)
Included: A hardwood sample kit, 10x loupe, the textbook Identifying Wood, and lunch on Friday.
https://www.fallonwilkinson.com/event/wood-id-workshop-historic-deerfield-2026/
What wood is it and why? Seeing and understanding wood in a whole new way.
Three days over the weekend, March 27-29, 2026 (Friday, Saturday 9.00am-4.00pm, Sunday 9:30-2:00pm)
HISTORIC DEERFIELD, MASS – Did you ever look at a piece of wood and wonder what wood it is? And why it looks the way it does? Were you ever confused about which wood it is? Is it mahogany or walnut? Am I looking at cherry or poplar? Is it a hardwood or a softwood?
This three-day hands-on workshop at the dynamic Historic Deerfield is taught by Randy S. Wilkinson in partnership with Historic Deerfield and will answer all these questions and more. It is designed specifically for curators, collectors, antique dealers, appraisers, and conservators. The goal of this workshop is to familiarize the student with the physical properties of wood in order to recognize species specific cell structures. No experience is necessary.
Basic wood anatomy will be introduced, including grain, figure, fundamental differences between softwoods and hardwoods, and more. The student will learn to identify 19 common woods that are used in American decorative arts using a 10x loupe.
We will be using the collection of Historic Deerfield to identify wood once it is made into an object. Students will get the rare opportunity to see some of the great treasures the Historic Deerfield has to offer while learning to identify wood on site. To augment the experience, a curator guided collections tour is included.
No experience is necessary. Class fee includes a hardwood sample kit, 10x loupe, book (Identifying Wood) and Friday lunch. A 10% discount rate is offered to students, senior citizens, IWCS members, Society of Gilders members, and prior Fallon & Wilkinson students are eligible for a 10% discount (use coupon code Student, Senior, IWCS, or SoGi) and a 15% discount will be applied to Historic Deerfield Members (use coupon code HDclass). Class size is limited to 15 students. This class will fill quickly, so sign up soon.
Read this review on our Videos page about one of our past Wood Identification Workshops.
Two special tours will be available to attendees: a potential tour of the galleries at the Wright House and a tour with Michael J. Emmons Jr., Director of Historic Preservation & Architectural Research at the Stebbins House, which is currently in the process of restoration.
