Synopsis: The rules of joinery and wood movement are observed in John Lee’s curvy chest of drawers, even as the maker cast aside all traditional notions of design. Learn how this Irish furniture maker used miters, dovetails, and other tried-and-true methods to make a twisted chest of drawers that bends every other rule in the book.

In John Lee’s chest of drawers (see the back cover), every rule of joinery and wood movement is carefully observed—even as traditional notions of design are cast aside. Lee joined the case with miters and fitted a framework of drawer dividers into it with sliding dovetails. The drawers have hand-dovetailed boxes and applied solid white-oak fronts that are individually shaped to fit the contours of the case. To see more of Lee’s rule-bending work, go to johnleefurniture.com.

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