The Mortise and Tenon Joint In Mission, Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, Bungalow and Amish Furniture
Amish furniture designers and crafters use the basic and handsome mortise and tenon construction in many of their classic designs. Mission styles as well as many Arts and Crafts era tables, chairs, chests and cabinetry all includes the timeless mortise and tenon joint. Ancient carpenters knew that the mortise and tenon joint was both uncomplicated and extremely strong and for thousands of years venerable woodworkers in many cultures have pieced together wood to create sturdy and reliable furnishings for home, institutions and businesses using two wood members. As historians and archeologist research and excavate places in Asia, the Middle East and Europe they find more and more construction using mortise and tenon technology.
There are literally hundreds of variations on the basic mortise and tenon joint; but no matter which one is used they all work in the same way. To define the mortise and tenon joint in its simplest terms, the mortise is a piece of wood drilled or carved out (a hole) while the tenon is the end of a narrowed plank that fits squarely inside the mortise cavity. This joint is then glued, pinned, or even wedged, locking the pieces in to place. The ancient Egyptians used this joinery method for ship building as far back as 2500 BC. The interlocking method makes a perfect fit and if done right does not require the addition of glues or other fastening elements. The construction enables the nature of the wood to expand and contract with changes in humidity.
Although the concept of mortise and tenon joinery is very simple the ways it can be used in furniture design is complex and sophisticated. This style of joint either stops or actually goes through. The through wedged joint is in effect a dovetail joint. Although the mortise and tenon joints all are the most widely used because of their strength stress still affects them. Two types of stress in particular impinge on the mortise and tenon joint. One is doing things such as pushing or pulling tables or chests to new locations and another is caused by leaning back in a chair. There is also a third type of stress caused by the wood movement. The nature of wood is to shrink or expand. This happens across the grain but not the length with changes in humidity. This movement puts strain on the joinery of furniture. This is a very important reason to know how and by whom your home furnishings are made.
While the mortise and tenon joint, especially the exposed joint, has been a hallmark of the best Mission, Arts and Crafts and Craftsman designed furniture since Gustav Stickley began manufacturing his line in 1901, nearly a century later the Amish include this relevant yet simple detail. The Amish design is so exacting to the original recipes of the great architects and furniture builders of old that it still evokes the often forgotten virtues of heirloom quality, integrity and honesty that have created such a dedicated following to the Amish craftsmen’s furniture.
Tags: amish craftsmen, Amish Furniture Styles, Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, Gustav Stickley, joinery, Mission, mortise, mortise and tenon, mortise and tenon joint, mortise and tenon joints, tenon, tenon joinery