Wood furnishings are timeless and versatile in their styles.
Throughout international and national history, wood furnishings have played a huge role in reflecting our current technologies and lifestyles. Wood furnishing trends and patterns are broken up into periods that are named after the predominant species of wood at the time or what century the designs were popular during. Ready to learn more about the history of wood furnishings (so you don’t have to say shoulda-coulda-wooda)?
The Age of Oak
Wood furnishings produced during the reigns of British Tudor monarchs (like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I) are commonly referred to as furniture from the age of oak. Oak was the most commonly used wood at the time and much of the furniture retains aspects of the Gothic period that came immediately before it. Big and sturdy pieces like gigantic four-poster beds and enormous rectangular tables with rounded legs were very popular. Craftsmen that moved from Spain and Italy brought with them beautiful carving traditions that soon flourished in England during the English Renaissance.
The Age of Mahogany and Satinwood
The age of mahogany spans most of the middle of the 18th century and is marked by a simplification of designs and production. Instead of heavily ornamented wood furnishings, simple and elegant pieces were in style. Simple flowing lines were valued in the wood furnishings produced during the age of mahogany. The age of satinwood was marked by less severe versions of age of mahogany designs.
17th Century
During the 17th century, wood furnishings officially changed from the ornamental oak period to a simpler and less ornamental style. Table legs no longer required elaborate curvature and tables themselves became more rectangular and stern. American furniture arrived with the first settlers during the colonial period in the United States. Many of the pieces were older and styled using the wood furnishing trends common in the age of oak. The “American” style evolved from age of oak pieces brought over. The earliest American piece is a chest made around 1660 that carries much inspiration from British pieces but is something distinctly American.
20th Century
The 20th century is the hardest era of wood furnishings to pinpoint, as it includes countless distinct historical styles that make up modern and post-modern furniture. Many 20th century wood furnishings draw inspiration on past movements like Art Nouveau and Art Deco, but put their own spin on things. Part of the difficulty in attributing one style to newer wood furnishings lies in the fact that there are more materials available than ever before and we have more awareness of historical and cross-cultural esthetics than before. Craftsmen once constrained by what they had seen themselves or been taught to make now have the freedom to draw inspiration from almost anywhere.
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Mahogany Inc. is a general contractor that specializes in quality construction for residential and commercial projects. We have the expertise and experience to get your historical wooden windows looking brand new. If you are looking for work that will set your living room, kitchen, or business apart, contact us online or give us a call at (410) 727-0334. To see examples of our wonderful work and see what our customers have to say, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.