The fine art of chiseling timber

Joining past and future

Hong Kong has two styles of woodworking: modern and traditional. The modern form involves hammer and nails, while the traditional style sees joints carved and fitted together to form a rigid, self-supporting structure.

Processing wood was also an integral part of Hong Kong's woodworking industry. Both imported and locally sourced timber would be sawed, sanded, dried and supplied to clients. "When the wood-processing industry was flourishing in Hong Kong, many sawmills were situated near the dockyards to produce lumber for shipbuilding and repairing," says Penelope Luk, creative director at Crafts on Peel and co-curator of Stories Encapsulated.