Evolution of English Furniture

Whether you have an antique furniture  that has been in your family for a while, or you have recently acquired one, there are some steps you can take to determine its value and how old it is. According to a U.S. Customs ruling in 1967, an antique is an item that is 100 years old or older. Most of the Antique furniture were made in 18^th and 19^th century i.e. it had to be made prior to 1830. Let’s talk about derivation of English Furniture.

                                             A Burr Walnut Cedar Small Chest Of Drawers

There are two periods of English furniture. The first, known as the ‘Early Walnut’ period dates from 1680 to about 1740, or sometime during the reign of George II, when the newly imported mahogany began to gain in popularity.Much prized by Carpenter for its strength and decorative figure, English walnut, was not in fact native to England, but was introduced from Europe, possibly by the Romans.The lovely, faded “honey” color is of this chest on stand is typical of an early period walnut piece. Oak or, as in this case, pine was the timber of choice for carcasses, as its strong tight grain provided a perfectly stable ground to support the fine veneers.

                              English Regency Mahogany Extending Pembroke Dining Table

The ships which worked the slave and spice trade between England, Africa and the West Indies sometimes came back to England without a cargo; however, ballast was needed to keep the ship on an even keel, and this was made up of readily available mahogany tree trunks: Swietenia mahogani, also called Spanish or Cuban mahogany. Furniture makers had their workshops in the industrial part of town close to the docks, and seeing this timber mounting up on the quayside as a waste product, arranged for some of it to be cut. It was then discovered that not only was this timber good to work, but it was also very decorative. Once the timber was popular it began to be brought in as a cargo, and high import duties were paid, making it very expensive; then in 1725 the tax was lifted, and for the next 150 years mahogany became the predominant used by makers.

For the cabinet makers of the time, used to working in oak and walnut, mahogany was a revelation: the tree’s girth allowed for wide boards with a straight, fine, and even grain. Its reddish-brown colour darkens over time, and displays a beautiful figure and sheen when polished. It has excellent work ability, and is very durable – craftsmen could achieve fine, delicate carving and fretwork, as well as sturdy joints. Mahogany also resists wood rot and, unlike oak or walnut, is never attacked by woodworm.

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