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Furniture maker Otto Bouc made replicas

Back in the mid-1930, as Illinois historians and architects worked to restore the offices in the Vandalia Statehouse to look the way they did in the days of Lincoln, a search was underway to identify original pieces for placement in the historic building.

This search resulted in disappointment for the state committee, when only four pieces, including two heating stoves, were found and identified as original pieces.
In 1949, a second appeal went out for old furniture to complete restoration of two rooms on the lower floor of the historic building. Much of the interior work had been completed, a 27-foot ingrain rug had been found and placed in the office of the Supreme Court, but furniture was needed to complete the project.
The state historian turned to Chicago artisan, Otto Bouc, to create pieces that would grace the capitol and reflect the earlier time when the government of the state was at this place.
Bouc, of Czechoslovakian heritage, learned his trade from his grandfather and father in Vienna. In an article published in The Chicago Tribune on Jan. 29, 1950, Bouc told a reporter that he came to America in 1923 to “learn American ways of furniture making.”
He went on to say, “We always heard of the quickness of American operation in manufacturing, and I was determined to see it for myself. My dad finally sent me to help me get it out of my system.”
Upon arrival in America, Otto worked in furniture factories, and 10 years later set up a shop in Hyde Park on the first floor of what had been an old livery stable. It is interesting that although he came to witness the quickness in which furniture was produced, for Bouc, it was following the ways of his father and grandfather that earned him the attention of the State Memorial Committee.  
What attracted Illinois historians to Otto Bouc was the fact that he used only hand tools to create his pieces. Given the contract to produce four comb-back Windsor chairs for the Supreme Court office in the Vandalia Statehouse, Bouc traveled to historic societies to see original pieces of this design.
In all, Bouc created several pieces for the capitol, including a clerk’s desk, seven Windsor chairs, four of which were comb back Windsors, spittoons, "costumers" (hat racks) and a bookcase. Another of the pieces is the Constitution Desk. The original desk, on which the first Constitution of Illinois was signed, is owned by the Chicago Historical Society.
When Otto Bouc was interviewed by The Chicago Tribute reporter, he stated that he wanted his kin to be proud of the Vandalia job. “My sons and their sons in years to come will know that I made that furniture.  They can be proud of its sturdiness and good quality.”
And, ladies and gentlemen, his kin are very proud. So proud that they visited the Vandalia Statehouse two weeks ago on a mission to see the chairs, desks, table and bookcase fashioned by grandfather Bouc in his Chicago shop more than 60 years ago.
James Bouc, grandson of Otto Bouc, along with this wife, Elise, and children, Haley and Andrew, were in the group who traveled to Vandalia. Their visit was a learning experience for the Vandalia Statehouse staff because until the visit we had not known of Otto Bouc and his part in recreating Illinois’ history.  
James, aided by Ken Brewer, Statehouse interpreter, was able to identify several pieces of his grandfather’s work by locating the initials "OB" carved into the wood.
Following the visit, James Bouc commented that it was a “great opportunity for me to fulfill grandfather’s dream of having one of his grandchildren seeing his craftsmanship and feeling proud of the work he did to make furniture for the Vandalia Statehouse.”

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