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Here’s a sentence on dovetails:
Here’s a sentence on dovetails:
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I often wonder such things. Who ate the first hot pepper and deemed it edible? Who was the first to try this or that? Why did they even bother? I suppose iron was too expensive, butt joints too weak; so the dovetail was developed. I wonder, did it happen first in building construction or furniture and boxes?
Perhaps it was the first person who saw that a wedge shaped stone didn’t get pulled down but could be pulled sideways to be removed and thought, “why not in wood?” Shape first then negative space to fit it. Art happens sometimes entirely by accident, but is no less beautiful for it.
I suspect this could be Egyptian in origin.
According to Wikipedia…
“The dovetail joint…probably pre-dates written history. Some of the earliest known examples of the dovetail joint are in ancient Egyptian architecture entombed with mummies dating from First Dynasty, as well the tombs of Chinese emperors.”
I suppose both Egyptian and Chinese in origin; but no doubt much older still. The more we study ancient civilizations, the more we find that they were far more advanced than we would have ever thought.
Oh ye with such faith in Wikipedia…
Though maybe not likely the dovetail may have come about from a guy who couldn’t cut a straight line and stumbled his way to a stronger joint. Just a thought. lol
Is it true that the first guy to eat a hot pepper also invented ice cream the next day?
Hi Paul, I have two Diston dovetail saws and one of them has printed on the side 68, Danville,Va.
Was this a popular saw at one time?
There is a interesting information on the dovetail joints on Loughborough University of some of the history. It’s a great read
Loved your latest post. You make dovetails appear easy watching you cut dovetails makes it look even easier. But, I’m really struggling to produce an acceptable dovetail. For me this is what it’s all about. The challenge of mastering a new skill. I will prevail.
I find the joint is as visually appealing as is the name itself. Interesting how it came to be known as a ‘dove’tail. Perhaps coined back to a time when birds (dove’s) were much more abundant in the communities and villages that began using them. A woodworking joint that is pure yet strong and everlasting.
Nothing like hand-cut dovetails on a piece a craftwork to say here is a mark of craftsmanship, and someone who has learned the skill of using hand tools to bring together a timeless joint.
Dovetails were probably invented by cavemen who wanted arrow and spear heads to stay on the shaft.