This carpenter’s display piece, crafted from a block of wood with a veneer features two inlaid designs demonstrating dovetail joinery. This unusual piece is a functional yet artistic showcase of traditional woodworking skill. The inlaid dovetail joints, likely were used to demonstrate joinery techniques to clients, apprentices, or exhibition audiences.
Stamped on the back with “S.W.V.”, this mark may refer to the maker, a trade school, or a regional woodworking guild. This rare piece could have been used in the 19th century as teaching tool or salesman samples, especially at a time when craftsmanship and hand-fitted joinery were prized in fine furniture and cabinetry.
Today, this object serves not only as a charming artifact of woodworking heritage but also as a tangible example of the quiet artistry and pride embedded in traditional trades.
