Dovetail History

Re: Dovetail History

Charles

>M&Ts have been found on Egyptian furniture 3,000+ years old. I think dovetails were found as well.

King Tut's furniture had them

Steve Elliott

>I once saw an exhibition of artifacts from King Tut's tomb, including a piece with a small drawer. The drawer joint was a single large dovetail. That makes dovetailing at least 3300 years old.

re Dovetail History

glh

>Thanks, I'll relay that information. I've wonder (really, but not long though) what Noah used to build the Ark. The Bible tells us what it was made of and the deminisions, but nothing about the joinery technique.

Re: re Dovetail History

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>God didn't reveal the joinery to the person hearing his word, figured it would be lost on ....

Pam

Saw a show 'bout that...

Scott in Douglassville, PA

>Current thinking is that the ark was built in cubical sections which were then joined or lashed. Also that it was significantly smaller than previously reported, though I can't remember the justifications quoted...

Re: Dovetail History

Bill Lowrance

>It's not surprising that dovetails are an old form. If you think about it -- and in ancient times folks had a lot of sittin'-around hours to ponder and notice such things -- the joinery of one's hands clasped in repose naturally suggests dovetails. In fact, maybe it's odd that they aren't called "partial handclasp joints"... Bill

Great Point!

glh

>

Re: Dovetail History

Adam Cherubini, NJ

>In Anglo-American furniture, the dovetailed carcass became the dominant joinery form in the late 17th century, replacing earlier boarded and frame and panel construction. Carcass joinery (a series of dovetailed boxes) remained dominant until the advent of plywood in the early 20th c.

Adam

Dovetail joints have been used in woodworking for thousands of years, with evidence dating back to ancient civilizations[5]. The earliest known examples of dovetail joints were found in ancient Egyptian furniture entombed with mummies from the First Dynasty, as well as in the tombs of Chinese emperors[2][5]. This places the origin of dovetail joints at least 5,000 years ago[5].

The use of dovetail joints in furniture construction has continued throughout history, evolving in technique and application:

1. Ancient times: Hand-cut dovetails were used in Egypt and China for both functional and decorative purposes[5].

2. 17th century: In England, cabinet makers began using dovetail joints in walnut furniture[3].

3. 18th-19th centuries: Hand-cut dovetails were the standard of good furniture craftsmanship until about 1870[1].

4. Late 19th century: Machine-cut dovetails were introduced, with the "pin and cove" or round style dovetail becoming popular in American and Canadian furniture[1].

5. 20th century: European cabinetmakers continued to produce hand-cut dovetails through the 1930s, while machine-cut dovetails became standard in American furniture from the late 1890s onwards[1].

The longevity and widespread use of dovetail joints in woodworking can be attributed to their strength, durability, and resistance to being pulled apart[2][1].

Citations:
[1] https://www.harpgallery.com/blog/dovetails-a-clue-for-dating-antiques/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovetail_joint
[3] https://antiquesworld.co.uk/antique-furniture-construction/
[4] https://blog.lostartpress.com/2010/07/19/some-dovetails-from-the-15th-century/
[5] https://kristinlia.ca/2024/01/12/all-about-dovetail-joints/
[6] https://www.finewoodworking.com/2018/09/26/history-cove-pin-joint
[7] https://www.woodcentral.com/forkbb/topic/3027849/Dovetail%20History

Well how long have Dove's been around?