A (very!) Short History of Fretwork

The art of fretwork began more than 3000 years ago with fretted inlays on furniture in Egypt.  It has been popular in North America and Europe from the mid 1800's until today.  Fretwork of the 1800's and early 1900's was done with hand fretsaws or foot-powered scroll saws.  In the 1920's several scroll saws were designed for use with electric motors.  In 1974 Helmut Abel of Germany started building the Hegner line of scroll saws which started a new popularization of fretwork as a hobby.

A fretsaw from the 1600's.

A scroll saw from the late 
1800's.

 

One of the fretsaws we use in our workshops.

One of our scrollsaws