The art of traditional joinery

Before screws and brackets, furniture makers relied on the shape of the timber itself to hold pieces together. Those joints are still the strongest way to build in solid wood.

The mortise and tenon is the backbone of tables and chairs. A tongue cut on the end of one piece fits tightly into a slot cut in another, giving a large glue surface and resisting racking.

Dovetails join the corners of drawers and boxes. Their flared shape locks the two pieces together so they cannot be pulled apart in one direction, even without glue.

Bridle joints and half-laps are used where two pieces cross or meet at a frame corner. They are simple, strong and, when left visible, become part of the design.