Dennis Lee Zongker

Dennis Zongker was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and is co-owner of Zongkers Custom Woods, Inc. He started his woodworking career in 1984 designing and building custom furniture and specializes in carving and marquetry. Dennis has taken his experience as a furniture maker and incorporated it into designing and building unique styles of boxes. Over the years, Dennis has written step-by-step articles for Woodcarving and Furniture and Cabinetmaking Magazine from the UK also Woodcarving Illustrated and in 2013 his first book, Wooden Boxes, was published by the Taunton Press. He currently teaches classes in carving, marquetry, and box making. Dennis has also won several national awards for design and craftsmanship for the traditional jewelry box and the music box featured in Wooden Boxes. Articles: Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 315 "Chippendale-Style Side Chairs- Part 4 ( Coming Soon) 2024 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 317 "Chippendale-Style Side Chairs- Part 3 Carving Rails and Back 2024 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 316 "Chippendale-Style Side Chairs- Part 2 Making the Back Legs, Rail, and Shoe 2024 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 315 "Chippendale-Style Side Chairs- Part 1 Begins Working on Side Chairs 2023 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 314 “Designing and Making Custom furniture Part 6” Adding Inlays and Borders to Hallway Table 2023 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 313 “Designing and Making Custom furniture Part 5” Painting in Wood 2023 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 312 “Designing and Making Custom furniture Part 4” Carving Cabriole Legs- Scrolls, grapes, leaves and vines 2023 Furniture and Cabinetmaking – Issue 311 “Designing and Making Custom furniture Part 3” Hand Carving the Table Apron 2023 Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 310 -March 2023 “Designing and Making Custom Furniture Part 2” Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 309 -December 2022 “Designing and Making Custom Furniture” Woodcarving Issue 180: March 2021: "Carving Realistic Hands" The American Marquetarian Magazine Issue: Spring 2019 “Lion Marquetry” Chip Chats Issue November- December 2018 “Joseph the Carpenter, From Clay to Wood” Chip Chats Issue: January- February 2018 “Carving the Hands of Mary” Chip Chats Issue: May-June 2017 “Making the Crown of Thorns” Woodcarving Magazine Issue 152- September/October 2016 “Carving Elliptical oak leaves and acorns” Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 245 -June 2016- "Bending Hardwood for a Table Apron" Woodcarving Magazine Issue 148- Feb- 2016 "Carving Scrolls" Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 237 -Nov 2015- "Art Nouveau Coffee Table Base" Part 2 "Table Top" Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 236 -Oct 2015- "Art Nouveau Coffee Table Base" Part 1 Woodcarving Magazine Issue 140- October- 2014 "Carving Headboard embellishments" Woodcarving Magazine Issue 139- August- 2014 "How to carve an acanthus leaf on a Cabriole leg" Woodcarving Magazine Issue 138- May/June 2014- "Carved Cabriole Leg" Part 1" Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 218-May 2014- Projects and Techniques: "Stack Moulding- Dennis Zongker creates a stacked top for a Queen Anne-Style Table" Furniture and Cabinetmaking Issue 219-June 2014- Projects and Techniques: "Ebony Cross Banding and Inlay Techniques" Woodcarving Illustrated Issue #63, 2013 "Carving New Life for Old Furniture," Woodcarving Illustrated Issue #44, 2008 "Making an Elegant Wooden Box," Woodcarving Illustrated Handcarved Holiday Gifts Vol.2, 2010 Awards: 2023- Veneer Tech Craftsman Challenge Grand Prize Winner "An Art Deco styled music box by Dennis Zongker won the Grand Prize in the 2023 Veneer Tech Craftsman's Challenge contest for excellence in veneer work" CWB National Design Portfolio People's Choice Award 2013, "Traditional Jewelry Box" CWB National Design Portfolio People's Choice Award 2011, "Music Box" Veneer Tech Craftsman Challenge Honorable Mention 2011, Specialty Items "Music Box" Woodcarving Illustrated Best in Contest Award 2010, "Griffin End Table" Woodcarving Illustrated People's Choice Award 2010, "Griffin End Table" CWB National Design Portfolio Award for Residential Furniture 2009, "Griffin End Table" CWB National Design Portfolio Honorable Mention Award for Furniture Design 2004, "Chess Table and Chairs" CWB National Design Portfolio Honorable Mention Award for Furniture Design 1998, "Carving and Marquetry Dining Table"