Furniture Timeline - 2550-2650's BC Gilded Egyptian Style
- 2000-2500's BC Ancient Greek Style
- 700- 800's BC Phrygian Tumulus Style
- 800- 900's BC Assyrian Nimrud Style
- 500-1000's BC Chu/Ancient Chinese Style
- 1400-1500's Middle Age (Baroque) Style
- 1600-1700's Jacobean Style
- 1640-1700's Early American Style
- 1690-1725's William & Mary Style
- 1700-1760's Queen Anne Style
- 1700-1780's Colonial Style
- 1714-1770's Georgian Style
- 1720-1830's Pennsylvania Dutch Style
- 1750-1800's Chippendale Style
- 1780-1820's Federal Style
- 1770-1800's Sheraton Style
- 1800-1840's American Empire Style
- 1820-1860's Shaker Style
- 1840-1920's Victorian Style
- 1930-1970's Scandinavian Contemporary Style
- 1945-1965's Mid-Century Modernism Style
- 1960-1970's Postmodern Style
- 1970-Today Modern Style
Common Woods used in Furniture
Ash
Gray-brown American hardwood. Beech
Light brown American hardwood.
Birch
Red-brown American hardwood.
Black Walnut
Dark brown American hardwood.
Cedar
Golden to red-brown American softwood.
Cherry
Red-brown American hardwood.
Elm
Red-brown American hardwood.
Elotis Pine
Yellow hardwood from South America.
Fruitwood
Pink-brown American hardwood, including apple and pear.
Hickory
Red-brown American hardwood.
Holly Veneer
Creamy-white American hardwood, used in thinly sliced sheets.
Mahogany
Red-brown South American and African hardwood.
Mahogany Veneer
Red-brown South American and African hardwood, used in thinly sliced sheets.
Maple
Golden to red-brown American hardwood.
Maple Veneer
Golden to red-brown American hardwood, used in thinly sliced sheets.
Oak
Gray-brown American hardwood.
Pine
Yellow to pink-brown American softwood.
Rosewood Veneer
Purple-brown South American hardwood, used in thinly sliced sheets.
Satinwood Veneer
Golden-brown Indian hardwood, used in thinly sliced sheets. Satinwood can be highly polished. Sycamore
Pink-brown American hardwood.
Sycamore Plane
Creamy-white European hardwood, treated to turn a silvery-gray or pink-brown color.
Teak
Yellow-brown African and Asian hardwood.
Tulipwood
Pink-yellow South American hardwood with red striping. Also known as pinkwood.
Zebrawood
Golden-brown African hardwood with dark brown striping. __________________________________________________ There are probably thousands of other types but I have included a brief list here simply for reference purposes. Your local library or web searches will pull up additional information if you so request. But as you can see, there is virtually hundreds of combinations with woods, veneers, etc..
So the most important thing is to know which types you are seeking whenever coming in to purchase furniture. This way you can be assured that the piece of furniture you pick out fits your needs and requirements. __________________________________________________ National Half Price Mattresses & Furniture Blog:
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| Furniture 101
On this page, I will try to give you a brief overview of some of the more popular styles, colors and finishes, and qualities of furniture throughout history as we know it today. I will then follow-up with some helpful tips and tricks to extend the life of your furniture. Brief History of Furniture Furniture has been around quite a long time. Evidenced by wall murals discovered at Pompeii and sculptures and furniture pieces recovered from tombs of the pharoahs in Egypt. Throughout human history; furniture design and popularity have been as diverse as the people that utilized it. For example, tables and inlaid serving stands were apparently the 'style' for early 8th-century B.C. and were found in Gordion, Turkey at the Midas Mound. Seating furniture and carpets were found in a frozen tomb in Siberia and has been carbon dated to as early as 6th-century B.C.. Beds and stools have been repeatedly found in the tombs of Egypt of pharoahs and commoners. But much of the history of furniture has been lost to time since not all styles have been depicted in statues, wall murals, or carvings. Each time an archaeologist breaks ground on a new site, chances are remnants of furniture of some types will be recovered. Early humans realized early on that furniture made sitting and sleeping more restful and enjoyable. From the simplest chairs made of only an odd shaped tree trunk or a mattress made of palm leaves bundled together by vines; sprang an industry full of variety, style, functionality, durability, and desirablility. Description of Common Furniture Styles Early American Style is styled from the rugged European furniture styles featuring locally available woods of the area. Normally trimmed with very delicate and ornate carvings and designs on a very dark finish. Sturdy build and longevity made this a lasting and valued style in its time. William & Mary Style is a style influenced by Dutch and Chinese styles of the time and named for William and Mary of England. It features turned trumpet style legs with either spanish feet or ball style feet and is immediately recognizable from the Chinese style of lacquered finish. Seating areas normally featured padded cushions which was considered luxurious at the time. Queen Anne Style was named after the English Queen. It is a variation to the basic William & Mary Style with a graceful look. Features cabriole legs with either a foot pad or drak style foot. Also features known for this style would include fiddle-back designs in chairs and headboards and unique shaped drawer handles to add flair. Also this style influenced another style named Georgian Style (named for King George I & II) which was a more ornate version and was popular with royalty and the priveledged and social elites of the day. Chippendale Style is a combination of several earlier styles; some of which are but not limited to Gothic, Chinese, & French Styles of the previous period. This was first popularized by a cabinet maker from Brittain named Thomas Chippendale (see his writings on this subject in "The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director" published in 1754). It features the Queen Anne Style cabriole legs and ball or claw feet but also featured Chinese influenced carvings and trimmings. Also quite popular in this style is the overly tall pieces versus the normal standard sizings which was more popular in American furniture manufacturers than the European manufacturers of the day. Colonial Style is a combination style as well and incorporates parts from William & Mary, Chippendale, and Queen Anne styles. It was considered a more functional than a beautiful style and was used by most manufacturers. Some trace the beginnings of Eclectic Style to this origin. Shaker Style was developed in the United States by The United Society of Believers, a religious group popular at the time. It is a 'basic' style with straight legs (some with taper and some without) with woven fabrics and large rounded knobs for handles and is revered for its simple elegance. Scandinavian Contemporary Style was a simple design style that was popular with the Swiss and Danes. It featured real natural colored wood and simple connections and fasteners. Very durable and very popular in the 1930's and 1940's but fell from popularity for the most part by early 1950's. Eclectic Style is not an accepted 'style' but I mention here for completeness. Very popular in modern times, Eclectic Style refers to each piece picked on its individual merits rather than matching to other pieces. Very common a six piece living room set may have six pieces all from different styles. Or it can be a matching dining table and chairs with a non-matching china buffet and another style type of server making a combination of three different styles. There are many more styles not covered here but this should be sufficient to provide you a brief understanding of popular styles we see today and also may provide research material for you to explore further. I would suggest searching Google.com , Yahoo.com , or any of the other major search engines to find more information. Common Wood Types used in Furniture  Birch is a close relative to the Beech & Oak family of hardwoods. Normally found as medium-sized trees in northern temperate climates. It is the national tree of Russia and has long been used for everything from paper plates to furniture.
 Ash can consist of 4 different tree families. Normally medium to large trees and are found in subtropical regions. Known as a strong hardwood that remains somewhat elastic and therefore is used for bows & arrows, tools, baseball bats, furniture, etc..
 Bolivian Rosewood that is perfectly suited to furniture, flooring, turnery; due to its strong and heavy makeup and takes polish well. They can be found in Bolivia and commonly grow to 100 feet. Due to overexploitation, supplies are sometimes poor.
 Cherry normally refers to the stain rather than the popular tree that grows the fruit everyone is familiar with. But some manufacturers do indeed use this wood for their products. Normally found in the Northern Hemisphere, with two species in America, three in Europe, and remainder in Asia.
 Maple consists of approximately 125 species of trees and shrubs; most of which are native to Asia, but there are some species in Europe, Africa, and North America. The can grow to 130 feet and thus has become a favorite among manufacturers that prefer to cut fewer trees but still require large amounts of wood.
 Red Oak refers to a family of trees that are used quite frequently by many manufacturers across multiple industries; due to their quick maturity and hardwood quality. They can be found mainly in North, Central, and South Americas.
 Spanish Cedar is commonly found in temperate climates and can grow close to 100 feet tall. Known for its thick trunk and irregular grain pattern, it is popular for furniture manufacturers.
 Teak is a tropical hardwood tree native to south and southeast Asia and can grow in excess of 100 feet tall. Valued for its durability to stress, temperature, and weather fluctuations. It has its own natural oils that make it durable and at the same time pliable for many applications.
 Walnut belongs to 21 species found across temperate areas around the world. They have been known to grow as high as 120 feet and valued for their attractive timber. The wood is hard and dense and makes any use of this hardwood into a durable piece.
 White Oak is a long lived breed of oak. It is native to North America and can be found as far south as Florida and as far north as Quebec. Although the name white oak refers to the bark of the tree, more commonly the bark is an ashen gray. It can normally reach 85 feet at maturity and has been known to approach 144 feet tall. They have been known to live over 500 years.
Care of Hardwood Furniture With proper care your hardwood furniture can provide years of pleasure. Here are some tips to help you get the most from your furniture • Maintain a humidity-controlled environment (35-45% humidity) this will help to prevent warping and cracking. • Keep furniture out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources which can cause warping as well. • Avoid the use of nail polish remover, alcohol or other solvents near furniture. • Dust often with a soft cloth following the grain pattern; this will remove abrasive dust particles. Common Problems & Solutions for Various Stains/Defects • Burns (such as cigar or cigarette) - Minor burns can be fixed by rubbing with a paste of linseed oil and rottenstone, working with the grain until the burn disappears. • Heat Marks - Rub along the grain with a dry steel wool soap pad, extra fine steel wool or cloth dampened with mineral spirits. • Paint - If fresh, remove latex pain with water and oil based mineral spirits. If dry, soak spot in linseed oil, wait until soft and carefully remove with putty knife & linseed oil. Wipe dry. • Wax or Gum - Harden the substance by holding an ice cube wrapped in a cloth against it. Pry off. Rub the area with extra fine steel wool dipped in mineral spirits. Wipe dry. • Paper - Dampen the paper with salad oil, wait five minutes and rub along the grain with extra fine steel wool dipped in mineral spirits. • White Marks - Rub with cloth dipped in lemon juice or salad oil or rub with a cloth dipped in lighter fluid, followed by salad oil. Wipe dry. • Water Marks - Cover the ring with a clean thick blotter and press down with a warm iron. Repeat as needed. Wipe dry. • Milk or Alcohol Stains - Rub solution of boiled linseed oil and rottenstone with the grain.
LEATHER
- FULL GRAIN - TOP GRAIN - CORRECTED GRAIN - SPLIT LEATHER -
What does it all mean? Well, don't feel bad if you don't know the differences in leather - most people don't. There are many types of leathers which is a 'fabric' that is produced by utilizing animal skin and using chemical processes and tanning. They create durable and beautiful materials for sofas, loveseats, practically anything you furnish your home with. I will not go into specifics with regard to animal types but more generically into the terms used today in context with furniture. Full Grain/Top Grain Leather This type refers to leathers that are normally derived from the upper sections of the hide. This is in it's most natural state and as such allows the best strength and durability. The finest leather furniture is made of this type of leather. Rather than wearing out it will grow more beautiful over time and is why it is so highly praised by so many different industries. Corrected Grain This type refers to leathers that have been 'corrected' by removing imperfections in the hide from scars, insect bites, brands, etc. This is commonly used as a more economical solution for those longing for leather but also shopping for a deal. Split Leather This type refers to leathers that have been 'leftover' from the Top Grain process. The remnants are combined to create the 'fabric' of the hide and an artificial layer is applied and this fuses or hides the splits and gives the appearance of one continuous piece. A common example of Split Leather is Suede. Suede is manufactured by splitting the hides' different layers and therefore by splitting the same size piece of leather they can produce much more surface area of final product. Therefore suede is normally the most economical choice of the 'leathers' group. Honorable Mentions Certain terms have become commonplace in our society and therefore require that I refer to them here. Deer Skin - this is one of the best quality and durable types of leathers. Deers are naturally designed to withstand thorn bushes and thickets and their hide is ideal for producing durable furniture products and many other products from all types of industries. Patent Leather - this is actually leather with nothing more than a coating of high gloss and commonly plastic coating to produce a long lasting shine. Used more as decorative trimmings in furniture but is very versatile for other industries, especially the footwear industry. Buckskin - is leather that has went through the tanning process and was altered or added to by using fatty materials. This produces a softer feel that makes this a great choice for clothing. Not very popular in furniture industry other than motif type items or decoration. Bicast Leather - this is a man-made product that is produced by using leather remnants and a thick layer of polyurethane that provides durability. ALTERNATIVE 'LEATHERS' Synthetic leathers have been developed that do not require the utilization of animals but rather chemicals and plastics that simulate the true feel of leather. Common terms for these types are: Pleather, Faux Leather, Patent Leather(because of the additives), Naugahyde, Durahide, etc. The synthetic leathers can be comprised solely of non-animal products or can be a combination of both depending on the use and design of the industry implementing it. With alternatives, consumers will not have to worry about Red Rot (a condition that may result when finer leather is not conditioned or cared for properly over time) and some types allow easier cleaning. LEATHER CARE Leather is a natural fiber and as such will eventually break down after some time. There are issues with Red Rot and also if the tanning processes were not carried out properly you can also develop issues with proteins left in the animal skin putrefying. Most products include 'Care Instructions' with their products and if not there is a wealth of information on the web relating to this subject. If you would like to learn more about leathers, may I suggest you start at The Internation Union of Leather Technologists and Chemist Societies. |
