The History of Oak Furniture
Oak furniture today is a very expensive and luxurious commodity. Its beautiful grain makes it a popular choice for decorative purposes, but its qualities of being sturdy and water resistant also makes oak a very practical choice.
The use of oak for furniture was first recorded in the Norman times. At the time, furniture was a practical commodity and consisted mainly of benches and basic tables. Oak was specifically used because of its ready availability in the woods in England and Europe. Because of its sturdiness and water resistance it soon became very popular and furniture necessities were carved out of the wood.
As time passed, the need for shelves and cupboards with shelves evolved as people needed places to store the guns, ammunition and money. The shelved cupboards soon moved into the kitchen to be used to store crockery. Not long after that the idea of the chest of drawers presented itself and shortly after the wardrobe.
Because oak was so plentiful, it was also used for anything from ships to wagons and soon became the choice for furniture in the wealthier homes. Furniture that was commissioned was often initialled by the craftsman/owner and the occasion for which it was commissioned (e.g. a birth, death, marriage etc.) would also be inscribed on the furniture. Sometimes a second or third set of initials would appear on the furniture and that would mean that the oak furniture had changed hands.
In addition to furniture, oak carved wall panels made its appearance in the Middle Ages. Some sterling examples of these can be seen in the British House of Commons. During this time oak furniture became more decorative and consisted of many carvings and decorative patterns.
In order to make these precious pieces of oak furniture, apprentices spent quite a few years apprenticed to a master who was a member of the craftsmen’s guild. The guild required top workmanship and excellent pieces of furniture being produced to ensure that the quality of the furniture stayed consistent.
After the 1600s the trend changed to lighter wood for the production of furniture and oak furniture became less popular. During the Wars, oak regained its popularity and soon oak trees had to be protected from extinction.
Today oak furniture is once again very popular. It sturdiness and resistance to damages makes it a perfect family wood, while its darkness and aged appearance perfectly complements the restoration of 17th and 18th century houses and cottages. It is by no means the cheapest furniture around, but oak furniture has a timelessness that very few other woods can imitate.