A to Z of Crafts - W = Woodworking

Woodworking is the process of building, carving, or making something using wood.

Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Since Neolithic times carved wooden vessels are known. Examples of Bronze Age wood carving include tree trunks worked into coffins and wooden folding chairs. Germany provides fine examples of wooden animal statues from the Iron Age.

Two ancient civilisations that used woodworking were the Egyptians and the Chinese. Woodworking is depicted in many ancient Egyptian drawings, and a considerable amount of ancient Egyptian furniture has been preserved in tombs.

Historically, woodworkers relied upon the woods native to their region, until transportation and trade innovations made more exotic woods available to the craftsmen. Woods can be sorted into three basic types: hardwoods typified by tight grain and derived from broadleaf trees, softwoods from coniferous trees, and man-made materials such as plywood and MDF.

Here are some great examples of woodwork that I have found:

Dining Table of New Guinea Rosewood and Silver Ash by Unleashed Furniture

Handmade Clock with Pendulum by Woods of Knottingham

Heirloom Quality Rocking Horse by Marcs Woodworking

Red Squirrel Wood Carving by Sandra Healy