Quick Answer: When Were Dovetail Joints First Used?

The English cabinet maker first started using the dovetail joint in the mid 17^th Century on walnut furniture and carried on doing this by hand until the late 19^th century when they were produced by machines, mainly in the Edwardian periods.

How old are dovetail joints?

Dovetail joints often hold two boards together in a box or drawer, almost like interlocking the fingertips of your hands. As the dovetail joint evolved through the last one hundred thirty years, it becomes a clue for the age and authenticity of antique furniture.

When was the dovetail joint created?

There are a variety of dovetails. When the joint first came into its own, late in the 17th century, it was thought that fewer and larger dovetails made for a stronger joint. Over the years, however, they were cut smaller and finer, with the pins more numerous.

When did machine cut dovetails start?

Dovetail joints Dovetails were cut by hand until machines started doing the work by 1900. Machine made dovetails are very uniform and cannot be as thin as hand cut dovetails.

Are dovetail joints still used?

They are still used today by many experienced custom furniture makers. Dovetail joints are not only used to make a strong joint for drawer construction, but cabinet makers often use them to join the tops, bottoms and sides of cabinet cases, as was done on antique furniture.

When were Knapp joints used?

What makes the Knapp joint so special is that it was only used for about 30 years, from 1870 until 1900. This joint is the first known mechanization for making drawers in the industrial revolution age until eventually being replaced by a machine that cuts dovetails.

Who invented dovetail joinery?

The dovetail joint technique probably pre-dates written history. Some of the earliest known examples of the dovetail joint are in ancient Egyptian furniture entombed with mummies dating from First Dynasty, the tombs of Chinese emperors, and a stone pillar at the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple in India.

What is the origin of the word dovetail?

A dovetail is a joint in woodworking where two sides are fitted together with interlocking pieces. Dovetails got their name from the tail feather-like shape of the joint’s pieces.

How do you date an old chest of drawers?

If the handles are original it will give a very good indication of the age of the chest. A pear drop handle will suggest the chest will be William and Mary or Queen Anne period whereas a swan neck handle would be found on pieces that post date 1750. Drawer mouldings will also give an indication of the age of the chest.

When were dowels first used in furniture?

Wooden dowels have been used in manufacturing and woodworking for many centuries. One of the earliest documented uses of wooden dowels was in Japanese shrines in AD 690, which were constructed using only wood, wooden dowels and pegs, and interlocking joints.

When did they stop using dovetail joints?

Wider, uniform machine-cut dovetails were common in factory-made pieces from 1890 until the modern era. If a piece has no dovetails, it can still be a candidate for refinishing if it’s sturdy and well-designed, but it’s not likely to be an old piece with antique value.

What era is claw foot furniture?

Claw foot tables became a common fixture in many European and American homes during the 18th and 19th centuries.

What is a French dovetail joint?

French dovetails have sliding joints and are shorter in height. A piece of furniture with a curved front will always have French dovetails, because English dovetails will not work with that shape. If you see one dovetail on each side, they’re French dovetails.

What are the disadvantages of a dovetail joint?

The disadvantages of dovetail joints are that they can be fairly difficult to mark out and cut, and if they are made badly these joints lose the advantages listed above. Depending on the project, function, and design, there are a number of different types of dovetail joints to choose from.

How old is a dresser with wooden wheels?

Any piece on casters (wheels) is typically pre-1930s. If you have a dresser with a mirror attached on a harp, your piece was made around the turn of the 20th century. If you have a set with a separate mirror that hangs on the wall above the dresser, you can date that to the 1940s or later.

How important are dovetail drawers?

Dovetail drawers provide the homeowner with the strongest drawer joints, ensuring the drawer won’t come apart even when used every day. They are a good choice for closets and kitchens, because of the heavy use placed on drawers in these applications.