Throughout history up until the present day, all societies worldwide have harnessed wood to create both practical, and aesthetically pleasing objects. Examples of carpentry from the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China can be seen. Other ancient societies from diverse parts of the globe employed different styles and tactics in their carpentry work.
Primitive arms employed for protection and chasing wild game, as well as uncomplicated implements utilized to assemble shelters, have been in use for centuries. As people’s woodworking aptitude was honed, they acquired the capacity to pursue wild animals for sustenance, use an ax to clear and cultivate the terrain, and construct canoes, boats, furniture, and dwellings. Woodworking was a significant factor in the growth of civilizations.
This article will address the historical aspect of carpentry, covering woodworking from ancient cultures up to the Middle Ages. It will particularly highlight some of the most important civilizations in this time period.
The work of carpentry done in other societies will not be included due to the enormous quantity of content, not because it is not as important. Despite this, we will quickly go over a few of the most remarkable implements employed by carpenters over the years.
A Brief History of Woodworking
Many people find themselves captivated by wood as a material. Woodworkers are a respected community of people in society. Woodworking has always been around since ancient times.
Everyone has an affinity for the story of woodworking. Wood has been used through many ages since ancient times. The craft of woodworking has seen great progress since the 1800s. Tracing the beginning of woodworking from its primitive beginnings to where it is now is an intriguing journey.
General Background
Wood as a material has been around ever since the days of Ancient Egyptians, with some consideration given to Noah’s Ark as a possible earlier instance of its use. He constructed the ark during the Flood described in the Bible. In conclusion, wood has been employed by a countless number of civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese, throughout the course of human history.
The approaches employed by every culture are just as varied as the different kinds of wood they employed.
In the beginning, early humans relied on wood to make weapons that could be used to hunt animals and protect themselves. Later on, humans moved out of their caves. They constructed dwellings out of wood and other materials.
The advancement of farming made transportation essential. Dwellings became more sophisticated. The need for wood and woodworkers rose.
Let us now move on to look at the evolution of woodworking from ancient times:
Ancient Asian Timber Workers
Carpenters who used to live in the Near East created immense boats out of wood coming from the region of Anatolia in Turkey and from the seashore of Syria, Lebanon and Turkey in the Mediterranean.
Archaeologists discovered pieces of furniture that were constructed of wood and decorated with ivory, metal, or bone originating from as early as 800 BC. C. in Gordion, the supposed home of King Midas. People who worked with wood in the Middle Eastern region employed wedges, lathes, mallets, drills, leads, chisels, hammers, and compasses.
The ancient wood carving from the Near East can still be seen in the form of wooden windows in old mosques and private homes today in Arab culture.
Muslim artisans from Persia, Syria, Egypt, and Spain crafted exquisite wall decorations, ceiling ornaments, lectern decorations, and furniture embellishments. Their carpentry was elaborate and meticulously delicate.
China, Egypt, and Japan, all of which are in Asia, have a powerful impact on the global stage. This demonstrates that Asian countries are keeping up with the West in terms of woodworking.
Woodworkers of the Biblical Times
The biblical era is roughly concurrent with that of the ancient Egyptians. Around 600 B.C., there were people who specialized in woodworking.
The Scriptures contain evidence of intricate woodworking featuring decoration with ivory ornamentation. Temples also sprang up during that time. They utilized wood extensively as a building material. Lebanese cedar was a frequent type of timber used during biblical times.
Woodworkers employed wood to build boats in great quantities. When the Sea of Galilee had its water level decrease substantially, two siblings uncovered a vessel from that era. The boat’s age was estimated to be between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D. It was similar to the vessels that Jesus and His disciples were in when He said He would make them “hunters of people”.
Noah’s Ark
There is much documentation about Noah’s ark. Much debate surrounds the concept of its existence. A lot of ideas argue against the feasibility of constructing an ark that would have the capacity to hold all existing forms of life on Earth.
If we follow what is said in the Bible, Noah constructed the ark more than 7,000 years ago. This article brings to mind the first and most prominent woodworking endeavor in existence.
Ancient Egyptian Woodworking
The first Egyptians constructed wooden caskets, and were the originators of veneer artistry. This technique can be seen in the resting place of Semekhet, who passed away over five thousand years ago. A number of Egyptian rulers were interred with various items crafted from ivory inlays and African ebony veneers.
Finishings for old-style carpentry were complete, despite no one knowing the components of said fininshings. The ancient Egyptians used mortise-and-tenon joints in their construction.
The Egyptians began using animal glue between 1570-1069 BC. C. The usual instruments for the first Egyptian carpentry worker were hatchets, bows, gouges, draw saws, and saber saws.
Many drawings from ancient Egypt have been found that were made in the year 2000 A.D. C. They accurately show traditional timber furniture, including mattresses, desks, beds, seats, armchairs, and storage boxes. Evidence of wooden artifacts can still be found, due to the dry climate in the region where they were interred in tombs, thus keeping them in good condition over time. Some caskets located in burial sites were constructed out of wood.
The workforce of carpenters in ancient Egypt was widely commended for honing their craft over time and establishing methods that were to benefit later carpenters. An example of their creativity is the skill of coating or the technique of sticking together thin pieces of wood.
The incredible power of Ancient Egypt is seen in its great contributions to the craft of woodworking in modern times, particularly the use of veneers to decorate furniture pieces. The art of coating is impressive and excellent!
Chinese Woodworking
Evidence shows that woodworking in ancient China began more than 6,000 years ago, with carved designs dating back to the Neolithic Age at the Hemudu Site. Many believe that the Banpo Neolithic Village, with its mud and wooden walls, has been in existence for 5,000 years.
Archaeologists unearthed imperial wooden sepulchers and bygone palaces in the debris of Yin, situated in Anyang City, Henan Province. It is thought that these date back to the Shang Dynasty which existed between 1400 BC and 1100 BC.
Early Chinese societies encouraged the practice of carpentry. It is assumed that woodworking flourished in that nation starting in 720 A.D. C. The Chinese carpenters have come up with inventive woodworking techniques, including accurate measurements for creation of vessels, tables, and other furnishings.
The most celebrated Chinese woodworking technique is the use of no nails or screws in creating furniture or any other form of woodworking. In Chinese architecture, wooden materials were commonly used for constructing structures like Siheyuan courtyard dwellings, temples, and pagodas. These structures were lavishly decorated with intricate designs and vibrant colors.
Dougong, bracket pieces that are situated in between a crossbeam and the top of a column, is a significant component of Chinese wooden building. Wood structures constructed using historical methods do not require nails or glue.
Chinese carpenters had a profound aptitude with wood because they could construct intricate edifices with the employment of notched and pointed joints, while incorporaing the distinctive beauty of ancient Chinese wood designs.
China is home to 50 UNESCO protected heritage sites, the majority of which are related to traditional Chinese wood structures.
As a result of alterations in the atmospheric conditions in China, wood craftsmen realized that fixtures constructed with a heavy usage of glue would become malleable when shipped to places in Europe and other places of hot and humid climates. The knowledge of this was acquired after European settlers who obtained Chinese furnishings for their dwellings found them to be breaking apart as a result of the moist heat and humidity causing the animal glue to become weak.
In addition to Japan, Korea and other Asian countries, it was discovered that interlocking joints were a viable technique for joinery. They were astonished and decided to utilize nailless junction for a higher level of steadiness and power. Furniture made using the mortise and tenon joinery commonly shakes, as opposed to nailless joinery, which is extremely solid and steady.
Woodworking in Ancient Japan
Japan is renowned for creating its own distinctive style of woodworking. Japan was the first to originate the idea, although it was taken up later in other countries. Today, Japanese woodworking retains much of its original form from ancient times.
Japanese woodworking, similar to the tradition of Sumo wrestling and the Japanese tea ceremony, has been in existence for countless generations.
Japanese woodworking is a unique practice, as it typically does not involve electric tools or the use of things like nails and screws to fasten the pieces together. They do not rely on any form of adhesive to attach the various pieces of wood together. The sections of wood fitted together so closely that any attempt to pull them apart would probably cause harm to the wood.
Japanese woodworkers employ steel-made tools. The Japanese are well-known for the superior carbon steel found in their products.
Ancient Japan has contributed beautiful wooden sculptures. Another offshoot of intricate Japanese sculptures is blocked prints. The practice of printing using blocks came from Japan and continues to be employed in other countries to the present.
Japan can also be credited for the creation of lacquering. This technique remains commonly used in Japan, Korea, and China even into the present day.
Ancient Rome
Woodworking was significantly important during the time of Ancient Rome. The Romans utilized wood for the purpose of constructing structures, crafting tools, producing domestic items, and constructing vehicles.
Wood was utilized to create pipes, as well as to craft dye and sealant. Of course, they also burned wood for fuel. Sadly, very little evidence of the practice of woodworking in Rome remains today, though there is plentiful evidence from documents that show how important a role it played in the Roman Empire.
Woodworking in Other Countries
As we delve further and further into the past of woodworking, we will embark on a journey spanning the entire world. Virtually no nation on Earth has failed to make woodworking a prominent feature of their economy.
As an illustration, artefacts crafted from timber and wooden handiwork have been discovered in places such as Kalambo Falls in Africa, Clacton-on-Sea in England and Lehringen in Germany.
Archeologists have discovered some wooden artifacts in coffins from northern Germany and Denmark and even wooden folding chairs that date back to antiquity.
Woodworking in the Medieval Era
During the Middle Ages, Europe was the most advanced area on the planet. Between 1515 A.D., timber was employed in the construction of castles, vessels, and furniture. Woodworkers employed a substantial amount of wood to make sculptures.
During the Medieval Era, a major advancement in carpentry was the crafting of musical instruments which experienced a surge in popularity. Carpenters mainly employed oak, specifically in England, Holland, and Flanders (an area located in Belgium, Europe). Oak was a widely-used type of wood in France until there was a shift towards utilizing both oak and beech.
Oak became well known due to the abundant medieval woodlands in which it flourished. Later on, due to too much being taken from the oak trees, there wasn’t enough to go around, necessitating a look for other types of trees, such as beech and elm.
An intriguing difference from oak was manifested in the form of Lindenwood, also known as lime wood. The wood was more pliable and lighter than oak, making it simpler to manage.
The intricate sculptures displayed in museums today demonstrate the sizable esteem and relevance of this kind of wood in the past.
