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Introduction

It is something of a paradox in the 21st century that so many of the products made in the village workshops of the 18th and 19th centuries throughout Europe and in the early settlements of colonial America, for a population more interested in function than in fashion, are much sought after on account of their bold simplicity and traditional craftsmanship. We may be thankful for the products and amenities of modern technology but we also enjoy the often more satisfying and visually pleasing products of a bygone age.

“Why is this?” we may well ask. Is it because these early makers have come to epitomize a time, and a way of life, when the pace was much slower and less stressful than it is today, or is it because of a growing dissatisfaction with the monotony of urban living and the sameness of mass production? The idea of the simple country life certainly appeals to many people—a trait that television, magazine publishers, and the advertising business fully exploit with their portrayal of village life, farmhouse interiors, and country living. As a consequence, this obvious step back in time and consciousness has brought about a reverence for and a revival of the handmade products of our rural past.

And nowhere is this more apparent than in the increased interest in handmade wooden objects, be they items of furniture, for use indoors and out, kitchen utensils, or containers, racks, and shelves for storage or display. Traditional woodwork, perhaps more than anything else, is central to the so-called “country style.”

From ancient times, wood has been one of the most used of all our natural resources, and throughout history new ways of using it have continually been found. In the beginning, trees provided man’s basic needs—food, fuel, and shelter. Later, evermore sophisticated forms of shelter were devised, and buildings (small and grand), and furniture of all kinds to be used in them, were built of wood, as were boats and ships of all sizes, fences and fortifications, agricultural implements, domestic ware, and household utensils. The earliest airplanes were made from wood, vintage cars have wooden frames, and giant locomotives on their “iron road” were supported on wooden ties or sleepers. The paper we write on, the pencil we write with, and even the eraser used to correct mistakes began as a tree. The fuels that drive our cars and run our domestic heating come from prehistoric forests that grew and perished long before man appeared on Earth.

The early workers in wood had only the simplest tools, and this is reflected in the simplicity and severely functional nature of what they produced. It is this naivety that appeals to our senses today. The clear step-by-step projects provided in this book, which are organized and color-coded by an increasing level of ability required for the task, should enable and inspire readers to make their own hand-crafted traditional wooden furniture and artifacts that will help capture the essence of country living and style. Living with wood is undeniably pleasurable, and working with it can be deeply satisfying and rewarding.

All measurements are given in inches, with the equivalents in millimeters indicated in brackets.