Mortise and Tenon Joinery
​
Our dining tables are crafted with mortise and tenon joinery which is a way of connecting two pieces of wood together without the use of mechanical fasteners (such as screws or nails).
This technique has been used for thousands of years and it is still the best!
Mortise and tenon joinery is strong, stable and aesthetically pleasing to look at. It makes a permanent bond between two pieces of wood such
as the leg to the apron (or skirt) of the table, giving your table a lifetime’s worth of service and family pleasure.
The mortise is a slot or hole cut into one of the pieces to be joined and the tenon is the corresponding wood tongue or rail that will fit into the
mortise. The tenon is glued into the mortise and then locked in place with a wooden pin or dowel.
The legs are not detachable
Hand Planed Surfaces
​
Many of our tables come with a hand planed or scraped surface which are hand worked with the tool called a “hand planer” just as it would
have been done in centuries past, giving your table a unique antique look with slight undulations adding character and charm,
a very beautiful surface.
Many of our hand planers and scrapers are over 100 years old and have been used by woodworkers for decades and we now have the honor
of being their caretaker and user, something we treasure immensely.
Breadboard Ends
​
Breadboard ends are boards that run perpendicular to the field of the table, they are mortise and tenoned on to the table top and have
wooden pegs holding them in place, they are a permanent part of the table top.
Traditionally breadboard ends were the hallmark of fine craftsmanship as it added a “refined finished” end to the table by hiding the end
grain of the long boards on the field of the table, it also helps to keep the table top flat and straight.
Dovetail Drawer Boxes
​
Our drawers are created with dovetail joints, which is a method for joining the side of the drawer box to the front. The dovetail is renown
for its strength and resistance to being pulled apart and once glued into place it does not require any mechanical fasteners (such as screws or nails) and is almost impossible to pull apart. Its strength comes from the way the pins and tails of the joint are made; the tapered shape of the pin is held in place by the taper of the tail.
The dovetail joint is known to have been used as far back as ancient Egypt.
