The people engaged in crafting cool things out of wood are partaking in a human hobby that is probably older than most agriculture. After all, wood was one of the earliest raw materials available to us. Even Neanderthals are thought to have some primitive forms of woodworking, based on archeological evidence.
While ancient wood items are somewhat impressive, the first real example of what we can immediately recognize comes from ancient Egypt, like so many other “firsts.” Furniture, decorations, and even tools were all made from wood, given how easy of a material it is to work with, compared to copper.
While older woodworking tends to be monolithic, the Egyptians knew how to make glue from parts of animals, which allowed for a lot more creativity and utility. Craftspeople could combine multiple materials and items to make something new and significantly more developed than the ritual objects of the past.
As it so often happens, modern technology has, somewhat, taken the allure out of quality woodworking. CNC wood routers, and mass production both allow us to make items from wood at a massive scale but also take all the individuality out of the work. After all, every piece of wood is slightly different, from the grain to any marks left by a carpenter.
However, this doesn’t mean that quality, handmade work has gone anywhere. This list (and many others featured on Bored Panda) are all examples of just how many brilliant and creative people are out there. At the same time, there are also very famous examples of woodworkers who design and create custom pieces of furniture that often cost an absolute arm and a leg.
One of the more unique qualities of woodworking, as opposed to, say, metalworking, is just how regional its materials are. This is often reflected in the traditional applied arts of different nations, as artists use what is available to them. This can influence everything from the color and “hardness” of the wood to even its smell.
This also allows for a greater degree of creativity, as the woodworker or carpenter can adapt their design to best fit the material. While hardwoods are traditionally thought of as more prestigious, don’t let the name fool you, softwoods can be found in a lot of wooden construction, as they are often still quite strong while being considerably lighter.
