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The president of the company I work for is an antique collector, and thus our office is chock full of wonderful furniture (much of which is rather ill-adapted to life in the 21st C, but that’s another story).

Anyhow, the other day, on the verge of nodding off during a rather lenghtly and boring meeting, I noticed an armoire with most interesting doors: the doors are raised panel construction, but the rail-stile frame is mitered at the corners. That is, rather than the usual right angle joint between the rails-stiles, there is a 45-degree miter, at all four corners. (The upper rails are actually inclined — not horizontal — but the rails and stiles are mitered at all four corners.) Note that I do mean that the entire rail-stile joint is mitered, not just the profile moulding cut into the rails and stiles! (If I’m not making this clear, I could post a photo in a day or two….)

So, the questions:

1) can anyone give me an idea as to what period/style this lovely approach to rail-stile joinery was employed? (The armoire looks French, but I haven’t had a chance to ask, and I’m not exactly knowledgeable about antiques.)

2) Is this joint built internally with a mortise and tenon, with the haunches cut at 45-deg to form the miter? (Internal construction is not aparent from inspection.)

4) Other than the obvious labor involved, is there any reason *not* to use this sort of joinery on a frame and panel door? (I can’t emphasize enough how lovely it looks: the panel really is framed, and the corners seem so smooth, rounded even.)

Much thanks for all thoughts,

-frank