We recently made a storage bench settle, that I designed a nice little joint detail.
This is a through tenon that attaches the armrest to the legs.
To give the bench a lift, I decided to utilise a wedge tenon technique. The tenon is cut in a way that has a timber wedge inserted in and this then splays the joint and gives it its strength within the mortice. As a interesting twist, instead of timber, I used a small hammered piece of pewter.
Throughout furniture history joints are used as key joinery holding techniques, but there is no need to hide these away. In fact the opposite can often lift a basic piece onto another level.
One of my favourite furniture makers Sam Maloof. His furniture is an amazing blend of sculpture and fine craft.sadly he is no longer with us, but his workshop continues to take commissions, but no doubt you will need to wait.
His chairs are legendary for the sculpted seat to leg joint.
Another famous joint detail is that often seen on Charles Greene and Henry Greene interiors.
Although their work mainly was to interior joinery within their stunning design Arts and Crafts houses, the pegged joint crosses well into furniture too.
The joint detail uses a simple peg wedge that once cut and inserted locks the joint together.
Greene and Greene took a gat influence from Japanese joint techniques. A master of this technique can be seen in the beautiful organic style of George Nakashima.
Famed for his ability to use the natural shape of the timber.
With the large slabs of timber often sourced for his table tops, the natural splits are braced by a contrasting wedge, referred to as a Butterfly key. Although this joint is to prevent the spilt moving further along the timber a contrast wood is a great way of complimenting this joint.
More information can be found at:
http://www.sam-maloof.com/
http://www.nakashimawoodworker.com/
http://www.gamblehouse.org/history/architects.html
