Bowtie Joinery

Have you ever wondered why there is a bow-tie shape cut into a piece of wooden furniture?  Is it just to look pretty?  Does it serve a purpose?  Is it the woodworker’s signature?

This little shape, called a bow-tie, or also known as a butterfly or dovetail key, is a type of woodworking joinery.

It was made famous by a Japanese-American woodworker, George Nakashima in the 1950’s.  It was George’s aim to craft furniture that reflected nature and the wood’s natural beauty.  His signature style was to join multiple slabs of wood with a bowtie, leaving the wood with as much raw beauty as possible.  Here at Timber Reflections, we also use the bow-tie joint to enhance the natural beauty of a slab of wood.  David often uses a different wood species to add elegant contrast.

It is not all about aesthetics, however.  The trapezoidal shape of each wing allows the bowtie to be used to hold two pieces of wood together, without the use of any type of fastener (nails, screws, etc).  The bow-tie also effectively stops cracks and splits in a slab of wood from continuing on.  

It takes precise craftsmanship to use this joint!  First, the bow-tie shape is carved into the wood and then an exact, corresponding bow-tie is made out of another piece of wood.  This piece is then fitted and glued into the carved area. 

It’s traditional joinery with a decidedly modern flair!