Evergreen Scarf Joint and Whitewash

Evergreen Scarf Joint and Whitewash

Timber Frame Material Evidence

This photo details a scarf joint and pegged tenon as well as some white-washed interior siding. The scarf joint is a technique applied when one does not have a timber quite long enough for the task at hand. The builder makes an intricate butt joint to join the timbers end to end, and then places this joint over a vertical timber in the frame to add additional support to the scarf joint.

Hunter S. Rhodes

Hunter S. Rhodes

Hunter S. Rhodes

Object: exact date unknown, likely early to middle 19th century

Photo: created August 9, 2019

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Hunter S. Rhodes

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12.3MP
3036 × 4048
4 MB
JPEG

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Color photograph

Timber Frame

This photo demonstrates one aspect of the skill necessary to construct a frame, and to do so with the available materials at hand. The scarf joint shows that the timbers available to the enslaved builders were not all long enough, so through skill and ingenuity, they had to join two timbers end to end to complete the frame. Not only do they demonstrate their skill through the form and longevity of this joint, but they also show it through the white-washed interior siding that still remains, which added not only aesthetic appeal to the home, but also provided more insulation and protection against the elements and any critters that may come in or out.