Not only is each piece of furniture designed and crafted by Thomas B. Morton signed as an affirmation of his best work, but every one displays an exclusive grain pattern and unique characteristics.
Thomas handcrafts each piece of furniture using traditional joinery methods and contemporary tools.
Mortise-and-tenon joints are often hidden from view, yet provide strength and durability that endures. Our East/West chair has 31 mortise-and-tenon joints and tenons locked in place with a wooden cross pin to ensure the joint will not fail.
Many of Thomas’ pieces utilize an interlocking dovetail joint, while all drawers in his furniture are dovetailed. In addition to providing a joint that is unsurpassed in strength, the visually recognizable dovetail enhances the beauty of the furniture.
Matching the natural wood’s color and grain pattern to maintain balance is extremely important to Thomas. He takes extra time to carefully select specific boards appropriate for each component making up the piece of furniture. This results in a more beautiful work of art and something you will not find in furniture mass-produced in factories.
Morton Fine Furniture is constructed from premium-grade hardwoods, harvested from the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania and New York or his privately owned woodland.
True quality and integrity are manifested in the obscure.
When you look at the back of a case crafted by Thomas Morton, you will not find plywood or Masonite that’s been stapled on. The backs are constructed of 5/8″ solid wood. After the individual boards are milled and sized, they are then tongue-and-grooved and carefully fastened. This allows the wood to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity, adding to the longevity of each piece.
Dust panels are placed between the drawers in Thomas’ creations. This not only increases the strength of the piece, but it also serves as a lid to keep the drawer contents cleaner and prevents an overstuffed drawer from catching on the drawer rail.
A well-made drawer needs no hardware, like metal slides, to operate smoothly. Thomas’ carefully hand-fitted drawers will provide a lifetime of carefree operation. The drawers in his furniture have finished interiors, thus preventing delicate clothing from snagging.
You won’t find traditional metal hardware on Morton Fine Furniture. Instead, Thomas handcrafts his own wooden knobs.
After a final hand sanding, a coat of warm oil is applied. The piece is then allowed to dry. This process is repeated 2 to 3 more times, followed by a coat of paste wax.
This labor-intensive method of finishing a piece of furniture not only makes the piece extremely durable but also reveals the wood’s distinctive natural color and grain. The result is a surface that is both resilient and pleasing to the eye and the touch. This finish is the foundation of the rich patina that will develop over the years.
Thomas is waiting to speak with you. Contact him today to get started.