Tage Frid Apprenticeship Memoir
An apprenticeship in Denmark
Synopsis: At 13, Tage Frid learned to be thankful for work-earned muscle; it helped him in apprentice fistfights at his master’s shop. His apprenticeship memoir will make you appreciate how times have changed. He hated every minute of the first two years, but wouldn’t trade them today; he learned to take care of himself, stand his ground, and put in an honest day’s work. He shares stories of how work was judged — for instance, in one competition, if a piece had two drawers the same size, they had to fit shifted around and upside-down. And the cost of failing at the competition was steep. This system would not work today, of course, and Frid tells you why.
Last spring, I attended a conference on apprenticeship where craftsmen and educators met to discuss the problems of learning a skilled craft today. I gave a paper on my own experiences as an apprentice in Copenhagen, which I started when I was just 13 years old.
The educational system was quite different from today in that most students finished school after the seventh grade. At that time classes were held six days a week, and the summer vacation was only six weeks, so the school year was about 240 days against the 180 days we have here. I was not very interested in academics, and the schools then, as now, weren’t very interested in practical subjects. They were preparing students for college. After the seventh grade, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My father was a silversmith and an excellent craftsman. We had a lot of silver that had to be polished, which was usually my job and I did not enjoy it, so I was 100% sure I did not want to be a silversmith. But I had always worked with wood, so my father asked me if I wanted to apprentice with a cabinetmaker. I had to do something, so 1 said yes. It was quite by accident, but I am very happy for it today—it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It was a rough life, but when you were finished you had an excellent understanding about wood
as a material, its strengths and limitations, and how to put it together. After finishing my apprenticeship and working as a journeyman for several years, I realized that I would have to go back to college. And so, when I was about 25, I did return to college and later to the School for Interior Architecture.
More on FineWoodworking.com:
- Professor Frid – A former student of Tage Frid describes the extraordinary experience of being taught by the Danish master
- How to Make Drawers – Design for drawing table illustrates the principles
- Three Decorative Joints – Emphasize the outlines with contrasting veneers and splines
From Fine Woodworking #13
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