The English cabinet maker first started using the dovetail joint in the mid 17th Century on walnut furniture and carried on doing this by hand until the late 19th century when they were produced by machines, mainly in the Edwardian periods.

How do I know if my furniture has a dovetail?

Dovetail drawers are recognized by their distinct pattern at the outside corner of a drawer. They look like jigsaw puzzle pieces joined together at a 90 degree angle. When you see a dovetailed joint, you can be assured that it is constructed of solid wood.

How old are dovetail joints?

Dovetail joints often hold two boards together in a box or drawer, almost like interlocking the fingertips of your hands. As the dovetail joint evolved through the last one hundred thirty years, it becomes a clue for the age and authenticity of antique furniture.

Why do antique dressers have wheels?

No matter how you came by your wood floors, you naturally want to protect them. Pulling, pushing, or bumping into furniture can cause the legs to scrape and scuff your floors. Furniture casters protect your floors.

Why is it called dovetail joint?

Dovetail joints are made up of two parts called pins and tails. When a master craftsman wants to marry two boards together, they cut a series of pins on one board and matching tails on the other. They are trapezoidal in shape, resembling the tail feathers of a dove (hence the name dovetail).

When did they stop using wood wheels on furniture?

Even though wheels (and therefore casters) have been around for quite a while, they werent officially used to move furniture until the 1870s.