13/09/2026
This is a work in progress demi lune table top, made using traditional methods, including inlaid marquetry using a knife, cut on my foot powered frame saw and applied using hot animal glues. Hopefully I’ll get back to it soon enough, it needs a lot more detail, crossbanding, then will be polished and engraved, along with the rest of the table.
This was inspired by my interest in 18thC style marquetry furniture and my love for hand tools.
It’s nice to see a community online of people that value hand tool work/traditional crafts in a world that often seems far removed from these age old techniques.
One reason I love old marquetry and this style of inlaid work in particular is that when you look at originals from centuries ago, there’s tons of mistakes. Over cut lines, damage covered up by berries and foliage probably not intended originally etc.
There’s something honest that can’t be replicated unless there’s tell tale signs a person made it.
Im sure that at every new technological age people pushed back and spoke about the ‘old ways’ being superior.
But things feel different now.
Massive companies are letting thousands of people go in favour of more streamlined AI processes, jobs that once took artistic talent and years of experience have quickly been replaced by free apps where people can make a flyer or design in seconds.
I’ve become increasingly weary of AI recently, it seems like every podcast or news outlet has had an expert in the field talking about the possibility of human extinction level events brought about by super intelligence.
Aside from it being worrying, what will eventually happen to craft and making?
I hope that during my lifetime I can pass on my interest and skills to my son and that in some small way this can be continued on.
I’m not ready for Skynet 😂
