A Bit of History

The first permanent Spanish colonists in 17th century New Mexico included guilds of artisans, among them woodworkers called carpinteros. They were not only carpenters, but craftsmen schooled in the woodworking arts essential to constructing and furnishing the missions, homes and other buildings on this frontier of New Spain.


While the carpinteros maintained their strict (and secret) traditions of specifications and techniques, they also adapted to the territory - its climate, terrain and materials - and to its Native Pueblo culture. From these indigenous peoples, the artisans recruited apprentices, learned adobe construction, taught Old World crafts to new generations, and developed their own design vernacular.


Over four centuries, the carpinteros of New Mexico modified their products to accommodate the needs and tastes of new waves of settlers, while prserving artistic idioms and standards of the Mission period. The revival of Spanish Colonial and Territorial styles in the early 20th century transmuted into an abiding love for the designs and craftsmanship of the carpinteros. Our namesake.

 

In the Carpinteros Tradition

We are preserving classic motifs and woodworking techniques that stretch back to 1600, and at the same time, we're creating furniture for contemporary customers who value sophisticated design, craftsmanship and heirloom quality. How we achieve all this sets Carpinteros apart.

Our wood is Ponderosa pine, harvested and cured expressly for Carpinteros using best practices of sustainable forestry. Every piece of Carpinteros furniture is made to order start to finish by a single craftsman employing old arts like hand planing (which brings out textures sandpapering can't) and mortise-and-tenon joinery. Decorative detail is hand carded, chipped and adzed, while finishes are formulated from age-old recipes and hand applied to bring out the glow that distinguishes hand-made furniture.

Although most people choose from one of our many existing patterns, if you need a piece custom-designed, custom-sized or custom-finished, that's not a problem. We execute such orders all the time, even collaborating with you long distance. Whether one of our standard designs or custom-built, the furniture of Carpinteros is made for the ages.