[abecruse]

How is it done. Is it all by carving?

 

[Steve Neul]

There are expensive carving machines which could do that however for the rest of us that would have to be done by hand. In reality it may look fascinating but would make a poor joint. End grain just doesn't hold well.

 

[amckenzie4]

I have a magazine somewhere (Probably Fine Woodworking) that walks you through how to make the necessary cuts for that joint, or maybe just a very similar one. I think almost all of them were made with a backsaw, and a little cleanup with a chisel.

There's actually a lot more long grain to long grain contact than it looks like from that photo, but it's definitely not the strongest joint there is; it's just a way to make a three-way mitered joint and still have SOME long grain contact.

 

[Ange]

they show the joint in detail here