Lost Art Press

Woodworking from the Cradle to the Grave

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One of the most essential pieces of woodwork provided by joiners was the coffin – it’s a topic I’ve been doing research on for the “Furniture of Necessity” book. Coffin-making is a fascinating trade with special jigs and construction techniques that have to match the local mores.

As part of the research into coffins, I’m planning on having a coffin party with a bunch of woodworkers where we will all make our own personal vessel – and each will have bookshelves in them until we buy the farm.

It’s interesting to me how even children’s books on woodworking from the 19th century made note of the sometimes-morbid part of the job.

Below is the text from “Was soll ich werden? : ein lehrreiches Bilderbuch von Lothar Meggendorfer.” Text by von Franz Bonn München : Braun & Schneider, 1888. Translation by the ever-sturdy Jeff Burks.

All ‘s let our furniture, table and bench,
the chair, the box and the cabinet,
We thank the cabinetmaker’s diligence,
He knows how to make everything well.

He built us the cradle,
In which we beheld the light of the world –
He once carpentered us the chest,
That we will wear for eternal rest!

Download the entire book scan here.

— Christopher Schwarz

15 thoughts on “Woodworking from the Cradle to the Grave”

    3. Chris,

      You may already know about the section in this book:

      http://www.amazon.com/Martins-Discovery-Colonial-Virginia-Settlement/dp/0394507282/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367332965&sr=1-1&keywords=0394507282

      Where Mr. Hume researched the evidence of evenly spaced nails along the longitudinal center of skeletons found in Jamestown. He found evidence that coffins used to be gable topped to display the embroidery on the pall:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pall_%28funeral%29

      I have a copy of the book and could copy the relevant pages if you want to go this far into the weeds for your research.

      Best,

      wskylvr07

  5. I thought I was alone in wanting to build a casket. I heard Frank Klausz talk about the Pope’s dovetailed casket several years ago. Intrigued by the challenge, since then I’ve been collecting pictures of wooden casket styles I like. I hope to have the skill for such a project some day.

    I had not thought of using a coffin for something else until the far distant, if ever, time it is used as intended.

    By the way, Rockler sells coffin hardware.

  7. I watched my father in law make a simple pine coffin for his dear friend who passed away. It was beautiful. It was then that I vowed to make this my practice for my loved ones. Please do share more info, Chris. I would love to know more.

    Joshua Klein – http://workbenchdiary.com

    1. They just get wrapped in wax paper so they can turn in their grave

  9. “As part of the research into coffins, I’m planning on having a coffin party…”

    The Whitechapel Club of Chicago (founded 1899 by “literary-minded newspapermen”) used a coffin for a table in their club. The original source of one of their drinking songs appears to be a poem entitled The Revel and credited to Bartholomew Dowling (1823-1863). In part:

    Then stand to your glasses, steady!
    We drink in our comrades eyes:
    One cup to the dead already
    Hurrah for the next that dies!

    According to some sources, Dowling wrote the poem as a British officer in India. The poem has been co-opted by numerous military units around the world, often under different titles.

  10. This is a slide show of a casket my friend Greg and I built for a great woodworking friend of mine when he passed away.

    Natural Expressions Furniture – 3 Day Casket Build

    via McTube for YouTube.

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