Dovetail Joints

Dovetail joints have been used in woodworking since antiquity, with examples documented in ancient Egypt as early as the First Dynasty. 

Most commonly used to join two pieces of wood at right angles, the joint consists of a series of projecting ‘tails’ cut into the end of one piece which interlock with corresponding ‘pins’ cut into the other. Their angled shape resists the joint being pulled apart and creates a particularly strong mechanical connection.

In cabinetmaking, dovetails were sometimes reinforced with animal glue, producing a durable joint well suited to the construction of drawers, boxes and other fitted interiors. Precisely cut hand dovetails also provide useful evidence of the skill and care involved in an object’s construction.