| Article Index |
|---|
| Types Of Wood |
| Amaranth |
| Amboyna |
| Birch |
| Birds Eye Maple |
| Calamander |
| Elm |
| Harewood |
| Kingwood |
| Mahogany |
| Oak |
| Pine |
| Rosewood |
| Satinwood |
| Tulipwood |
| Walnut |
| Yew |
| All Pages |
The timber used for constructing and decorating a piece of furniture help to identify the country of origin and the period. Until c.1750, indigenous timbers were relatively freely and cheaply available, while the use of more exotic woods is an indication of either colonial access or luxurious extravagance.
Learning to differentiate between a wide range of woods takes time. There is no magic shortcut, but obviously the more you look at and handle a good selection of antique furniture the shorter your apprenticeship will be, Bear in mind that wood can be transformed in colour by insensitive restoration or by applying a dark varnish. You should make a point of inspecting the area where the wood remains unfinished and in its natural state, remembering that cheaper woods often make up the invisible area of a piece.
