This trestle was a culmination of my studies in linear stereotomy at the Professional School of Practical Stereotomy, founded by Patrick Moore. What is stereotomy, you ask? Learn more about it here.

Montpelier VT, 2024

I spent about 200 hours creating this piece, which began by drafting a full-scale, hand-made drawing. The layout for each piece is computed physically within the drawing, using only lines, projection, and proportion. Each part’s layout was then directly transferred off the drawing and onto the wood, without the use of any numeric measurement. I cut all the parts with hand tools, and assembled the trestle in a sequence of 7 glue-ups.

Stereotomy Trestle

Ariel Schecter posing in a shirt and tie with his completed French trestle.
Side view of French trestle with three internal planes, in dramatic lighting.
Corner view of French trestle with three internal planes.
Close up detail of three planes inside French Trestle with intricate cuts.
Close up of complex stereotomy joinery detail called a twisted cross, on one end of French trestle.
Intricate geometric details of a French trestle made using stereotomy.
Long, perfect intersection of two twisted pieces along the bottom of the trestle.
Opposite corner view of French trestle made using stereotomy.
View of trestle upside down, looking up one leg, at many intersections.
Close up of fine, delicate details on French trestle made with stereotomy.
Top view of French trestle made with stereotomy.
Upside down view looking at the bottom of the trestle.
Cut parts of the French trestle with delicate geometry, on top of stereotomy drawing, next to drafting triangles.
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