Wishing you could talk

Sometimes I wish the cabinets I work on could talk.

This one had to be well over 100 years old, and although my time with it was brief, it left me with far more questions than answers.  Who and where was it made?  How did the joiner make all that tiny inlay fit so perfectly (without power tools)?  How many miles has it traveled?  What precious items has it held for its owner?

So what did I learn from this beauty?  I gained a better appreciation of proportion, repetition, and the use of small accents to add grace without chaos.  I learned why a case held together with dovetails can withstand the test of time.  And most importantly,  I am thankful for the dance we had together.