During my time with the Compagnons du Devoir in France, we took a weekend trip and stopped at the small town of La Veurdre. The reason for the visit was obvious after prying ourselves out of a very small car. This small town boasts collection of guitardes or alcoves. Built in the 1860ʼs when the carpenters guilds were at their peak, these small, but elaborate constructions clearly demonstrated their knowledge.

This is know as curved work (crouche in French), the most complex of the developed drawing. The curves for these must be “lofted” in to 3 dimensions, laid out on solid timbers, cut to the final shape, then joined.

Even the most skilled carpenter in our group, Pascal, said this was a specialty, and beyond his abilities. A small guitarde could take a master carpenter an entire year to draw and build.