Category Archives: Mechanick Exercises or the Doctrine of Handy-Works

‘Of chisels of several sorts’

In a nod to Christopher Schwarz’s talks this weekend at Colonial Williamsburg’s Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference, below is an excerpt from “The Art of Joinery,” the first book Lost Art Press published – itself an excerpt from Joseph Moxon’s “Mechanick Exersises,” which was the first English-language book that discussed woodworking, with modern…

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‘By the Book:’ Working Wood in the 18th Century

I have been stuck in a little too deep on peasant furniture and have forgotten to announce this: I am presenting at Colonial Williamsburg’s 26th annual “Working Wood in the 18th Century” conference Jan. 25-28.  This year’s theme is “By the Book,” and it will focus on the relationship between the printed word and woodworking….

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Closing Out ‘The Art of Joinery’

With the publication of Joseph Moxon’s “Mechanick Exercises or the Doctrine of Handy-Works” we now have two books with significant overlap in their content.  “The Art of Joinery” contains Moxon’s chapters on joinery, plus modern commentary. “Mechanick Exercises” contains all of Moxon’s chapters on handcrafts (including the joinery chapters). But no modern commentary. To reduce…

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