Contemporary woodwork with hand cut dovetail joints – sculptural designs that highlight the natural beauty of wood grain. ‘Dove-tables’ (a name that I have given to the general table design) can be used as coffee tables or placed at the side of armchairs and used as side tables. Taller versions are available as console tables for the hallway or writing desks for the study or office – with or without drawers or shelves. They are designed to be timeless, sustainable and user friendly pieces of furniture made to last and look good for many generations to come. I also make dovetailed boxes for storage use.
Traditionally made to the highest standards of craftsmanship, Dove-tables are mainly made from kiln dried European oak although other woods are available to special order. They can be made to any given size and ordered directly from my studio workshop or from high quality retail art & craft galleries. The example above is the ‘classic’ smaller size Dove-table (asymmetrical in plan) which is the most popular design. The photograph below shows the very first ‘Dove-table’ made in solid N. American Cherry in the early 1990’s as an asymmetrical TV stand to fit in the corner of a room. From 2010 onwards I started to number each dovetailed piece that I made (written under the top) – the most recent being no. 100.
The very strong joint featured in their construction is the ‘through dovetail’, both 90 degree and ‘angled’ or ‘skewed’ dovetails which I mark out and cut by hand (see images at the bottom of this page) – a classic, very strong and decorative way of jointing solid timber that has been used for centuries.
The classic Dove-table above has a ‘limed’ finish to stop the wood darkening with age.
A set of three matching Dove-tables in European oak that can be stored away as one.
The photo above shows two singles joined together to form a wider ‘double’ table. Prices of the smallest tables start at around £200 each in seasoned and Kiln-dried solid European oak. They are finished with several coats of highly protective ‘Liberon Finishing Oil’ and finally polished with beeswax for a soft sheen but alternatively can be finished with floor varnish for extra protection if required.
Shown above are a matching pair of symmetrical tables in solid European Oak that can be made to order – prices for these starting at £390.
Naturally oiled dovetail joints next to limed finish ones.
A large symmetrical Dove-table in solid 35mm thick European oak, ideally suited for audio-visual use as shown with adjustable shelves. Prices for these units start at £590 with a single shelf and can be made to any given size.
Shown above is a smaller symmetrical design (in solid American cherry) with a fixed shelf for magazine and book storage. This piece is now sold but similar ones can be made to order in cherry or oak.
The picture above shows a recently commissioned symmetrical (80cm tall) console Dove-table designed for a hallway in solid 32mm thick European oak.
A parallelogram shaped Dove-table (above) in solid European oak with angled dovetail joints at both ends! This recently made table (no. 98 in series) is currently for sale in Artifex (gallery), Suttom Coldfield at £295 . Dimensions: 50cm (20″) long x 29cm (11.5″) wide x 38cm (15″) tall (contact me by email: neilclarke.artist@btinternet.com).
The photo above shows a recently made large symmetrical Dove-table in solid 35mm thick European Oak, basically two of the symmetrical tables jointed together (3 optional dovetail cleat joints were used on the top surface for decoration as well as extra strength). The order price for this design starts at £590 depending on size.
This image shows a tall, square topped, Dove-tabe in solid quarter sawn European oak with mitred dovetail joints at the corners.
Shown above is a Dove-table writing desk in solid European oak, one of four made for consultation rooms for a private health centre near Derby.
Shown above are two Dove-table console units, the top one in solid European oak with three stepped drawers faced in natural brown oak, the lower piece in solid N. American cherry with maple fronted drawers (the lapped dovetail joints of the drawers are designed to be seen).
The photographs above show views of a dovetailed sideboard in solid kiln dried quarter sawn European oak with three dovetailed drawers made to commission in 2020. The two lower photographs were taken before the handles were attached.
Two views of a dovetailed oak ‘memory’ box made recently for a family member with initials carved into the top.
Click here to see pieces that are currently for sale.
Galleries who currently stock pieces of my dovetailed furniture include:
Artifex (art & craft gallery), The Mitchell Centre, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B75 6NA. Tel:0121 323 3776 www.artifex.co.uk Currently in stock: 1 medium size classic Dove-table in European oak, 2 small Dove-tables in European oak (x 1 with black stained top and external sides), and 1 parallelogram table in solid European oak.
Construction photographs
Dove-tables in the process of construction in my workshop – in the top most picture, the ‘pins’ are being sawn in 35mm oak using an antique tenon saw. In the middle picture a ‘compass’ plane (shown on the bench) has been used to produce the curved diagonal chamfer to the top edge of the ‘classic’ asymmetrical design table illustrated in the bottom photograph – a feature of all the tables I produce.
Letter carving can also be incorporated into the design to mark an important event, date or anniversary.
We are supplied with renewable electricity from Good Energy Ltd, which means that all the machinery and power tools used in the construction of each piece are powered by 100% renewable energy sources. For more info visit www.goodenergy.co.uk
All images – Copyright © Neil A Clarke. Any form of reproduction, transmission, manipulation, display or other usage without permission is strictly prohibited.
