historical origins of wooden furniture
Wooden furniture has a rich history, and it’s no wonder why this type of material is still so popular today. It’s the most durable, reliable, and versatile furniture material available. Wood can be carved, molded and shaped to accentuate specific designs, and can be layered to create unique pieces. It is a beautiful material to work with and offers many options for the creative designer.
The historical origins of wooden furniture can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. During this time, people were nomadic and used simple benches and rocks as their furniture. However, as societies started to settle and abandon their former nomadic ways, the need for furniture increased. The first wooden furniture was often commissioned by the wealthy or noble class. The furniture found in the tombs of pharaohs is one example. This high-end furniture was crafted of fine woods and decorated with gold intricacies.
As the centuries passed, trends in wooden furniture evolved alongside societies, the materials they had access to, and advancements in technology. As a result, today’s historian has a variety of characteristics to apply to furniture to determine its date. During the middle ages, artisans became more prominent. These craftsmen were skilled in various trades, including carpentry and furniture making. They were known as “masters”, while those who apprenticed under them were referred to as “journeymen”. The furniture they made could be both functional and decorative, and the highest-quality wooden furniture was often adorned with intricate gold inlays.
What are the historical origins of wooden furniture?
Wood was still the preferred furniture material for most high-end and regal furniture in the early modern era. It was only with the advent of industrialization that alternative materials began to take a bigger share of the market. Wood continued to hold its own though, and woodworkers developed methods of constructing wooden furniture with greater ease.
Some of these included using pegged construction, which utilized tenoned dowels to connect the joints of the pieces. The process takes advantage of the natural strength of the dowel to create a strong and durable connection. This was the beginning of a system that is still in use today in timber framing for barns and houses.
Other innovations in woodworking techniques involved the use of veneers. This method consists of multiple sheets of thin wood glued together to form a single piece. This was also in use during the earliest days of furniture making. It was later perfected to produce high-quality furniture and was used in many pieces throughout the Victorian era.
Other developments in furniture design during the early 19th century included a move away from elaborate carvings and towards a more subtle aesthetic. This was in response to the economic and social problems of the times. Eventually, this gave rise to the American Arts and Crafts movement and modernist designers like Alvar Aalto and Wharton Esherick. It is during this period that curved wood furniture became popular. Other notable styles include Queen Anne, Georgian, and Gothic.