Classic Carved Furniture: Making a Piecrust Tea Table

Classic Carved Furniture: Making a Piecrust Tea Table is a step-by-step guide to creating an American classic. Written by Tom Heller and Ron Clarkson, with text written with and photography by Douglas Congdon-Martin, this digital PDF is available for instant download after purchase.

This detailed woodworking manual shows how to build a piecrust tea table in the American 18th-century tradition. From turning the pedestal to carving the cabriole legs, every stage is presented with clear instructions and photographs.

Book Overview

Classic Carved Furniture: Making a Piecrust Tea Table is a 148-page guide published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. in 1994. The authors are traditional furniture makers who specialize in 18th-century American design. The book presents the complete process for making a piecrust tea table, from preparing the billet and laying out turnings to carving the finely detailed top and legs.

The book is aimed at furniture makers, woodcarvers, and anyone interested in period furniture reproduction. It combines technical instruction with historical context about the tea table as a centerpiece of 18th-century social life.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• Step-by-step instructions for making a full-size drawing and laying out turning divisions on the stock.
• Techniques for turning the billet, smoothing the cut, and shaping the pedestal.
• Methods for using calipers, dividers, and pattern sticks to transfer measurements accurately.
• Guidance for forming the trunnion and preparing a jig for dovetailing.
• Directions for setting depths of coves, fillets, beads, and the vase segment.
• Tips on selecting mahogany and understanding how figured wood affects carving difficulty.
• Historical notes on the piecrust tea table and its role in 18th-century America.

Why This Book Matters

This book preserves the craft of American 18th-century furniture making. It documents the design and construction of the piecrust tea table, a piece admired for its grace and carved detail.

For woodworkers and historians, the book offers a practical connection to period techniques and materials. It also highlights the importance of the tea table in 18th-century American social and political life.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, so no physical item will be shipped. Access is available immediately after purchase.

The PDF works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and most standard PDF readers. You can read it in your preferred reading app.

FAQ

When will I receive access? Access is available immediately after purchase as an instant download.

Will I receive a physical book? No. This is a digital PDF download, not a printed book.

What devices are supported? The file works with standard PDF readers, tablets, computers, mobile devices, and compatible Kindle apps.

Purchase this digital guide and begin crafting your own piecrust tea table.