About Oak Antique Furniture
Since medieval times, oak has been a common choice in furniture making because it is plentiful, durable and resistant to insects and fungus.
There are around 450 species of oak trees and shrubs of the genus Quercus. Oak is found throughout the northern climates and in the high-altitude regions of the tropics.
Oak has been used to make floorboards, wood paneling, chairs, beds and tables. From the simple to the ornate, oak furniture throughout the centuries has been in nearly every home. Does this Spark an idea?
Types
The early 16th century to the mid-17th century is known as the Age of Oak in furniture design. Two main design types of oak furniture emerged in the age of Oak: Tudor and the Jacobean.
During the Age of Oak, furniture was carved decoratively or it had painted ornamentation. During the Tudor age, the scale of furniture became larger and more extravagantly ornamented.
A new style period in oak furniture began in 1928, called the Renaissance Oak period. This was when the first true American designs in oak furniture emerged.
The Mission Style also emerged around this time, near the turn of the 20th century. Mission oak furniture has a clean, straightfoward design style, which was sometimes ornamented with inlays of other wood types.
History
In 16th and 17th century England, an expanding middle class was able to afford more extravagant furnishings. Oak furniture was in especially high demand, and because of this, many of the era's oak chairs, chests of drawers, elaborately carved poster beds and cabinets are still around today; a real boon for the oak antique aficionado.
During the Age of Oak, workshops competed for the best carpenters and craftsmen, and generations of sons followed their fathers in the trade.
In the 17th century, carpentry was valued as a creative craft. It took seven years to acquire a membership in the carpentry Guild.
Considerations
If you're in the market for oak antiques:
*Visit flea markets, antique shops and auctions. See what's out there.
*Visit the British Antique Dealers Association website.
*Page through English home decor magazines such as "The English Home." Antique shops and woodcrafters advertise their antiques and replicas from the Age of Oak in these publications.
*Check out home and garden magazines from the library. The back pages of these magazines are loaded with websites and links to antique shops and dealers.
*Look for books written specifically about oak antiques. It's surprising how many there are.
Features
Classic Age of Oak Tudor and Jacobean oak antique furniture consists of ornately carved dressers, dining tables, servers, rocking chairs, upholstered chairs, coffee tables, chests, sidetables, bookcases, staircases, highboys and sideboards.
Early American oak and Mission design styles featured much simpler styles of tables, upholstered couches, chairs and dining furniture.
Warning
When buying antique furniture, there is a risk that the item is not original or isn't as old as the seller claims. To protect themselves, antique collectors can:
Learn to spot repairs and imitations. Long-wave black lights can help.
Do not take the seller's word for it that an antique is in good shape. Learn which kind of repairs are acceptable.
As best you can, become an expert in antique oak furniture.
However, keep in mind that sometimes even the experts are fooled.
Tags: 17th century, About Antique, About Antique Furniture, antique furniture, antique shops