This is a pair of tables inspired by a table showcased in Fine Woodworking by Michael Fortune. The subject of mitered dovetails was raised in another thread on the forum which prompted me to share this project.
I love waterfall tables, and I also love the dovetail joint. However the inclusion of a conventional through dovetail joint in a waterfall table is upsetting (to me) because the end grain of the tails appearing on the top surface of the table is like inserting a visual dam in the waterfall. The solution is a half blind mitered dovetail joint which cleverly showcases dovetails without interrupting the grain flow of the waterfall edge. In fact, the angle of the exposed pin end grain on the side actually accentuates the waterfall flow of the grain.
I did some mock up modeling on the smaller table and settled on a design concept of keeping one leg straight and curving the other which from some angles looks like twisting movement, like you might see in a Frank Gehry building.
The stepped drawers on the larger table were a little tricky, but the intention was to create a second horizontal waterfall where the spalted maple wraps around the drawer box onto the front.
The body of both pieces is made from American Walnut and the drawer fronts and partitions are made from Spalted Maple. The drawer boxes themselves are made from American Cherry. The drawer pulls were shop made from Walnut.
The three drawers in the larger table are joined with hand cut dovetails. The drawer in the smaller table is joined with dowels
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