Antique Mahogany Furniture
By | April 4, 2011
Antique mahogany furniture can really add an air of class to any room. Traditionally, mahogany was used due to its beautiful color and the tree’s suitability for use as a source of high-quality furniture wood. Today, there is still a great demand for chairs, tables and cabinets built from this material. However, some people value most of all those items that were built long ago and are now seen as antiques. These pieces often possess a wonderful air of the past due to their long history and old-fashioned aesthetic, not to mention the way they have aged over the decades and centuries. In this article we will look at what mahogany is, why it has been selected for these purposes, what famous designers used it in the past, and how to approach buying antique mahogany furniture today.
The Mahogany Tree
Mahogany does not in fact refer to any specific species of tree. Instead, it is a broad term that is used to refer to quite a variety of different trees in different locations around the world. “Meliaceae” is a family name from which the various genera of mahogany are derived, and a great deal of mahogany wood comes from the “Swietenia” genus. Even within this, there is some variation, but all mahogany is renowned for its deep, rich reddish-brown color and its beauty when used for decorative purposes.
Why Mahogany?
The color of antique mahogany furniture is one of its largest draws. The material was used historically partly due to the size of the trees, which allowed the cutting of very large boards
with which to build suitable furniture. It also features the unusual combination of being both easy to work with and extremely durable once finished. This is one of the reasons that furniture made from this wood stands the test of time so well.
Popular Mahogany Furniture Designers
Perhaps the most famous name associated with antique mahogany furniture is Chippendale. Thomas Chippendale was a popular designer who worked a great deal with mahogany andproduced what are today some of the most sought-after pieces available. These are from the mid- to late-1700s. The most popular antique mahogany furniture is from right up to about 1850, and in its approximately hundred-year period you will find other famous names such as Sheraton and Hepplewhite. These pieces vary a great deal, and can involve either relatively simple designs or fantastically ornate carvings.
Buying Such Furniture Today
The internet has made buying beautiful mahogany furniture vastly simpler due to the ability to see copious pictures of potential items well in advance. You no longer necessarily need to browse through catalogs or visit sellers in person to get a good deal. However, it is not wise to avoid these methods entirely; antique furniture magazines and catalogs can still be excellent resources, as can auctions at which you can inspect the furniture up close yourself. Very often, a good piece of antique mahogany furniture will have a sheen or glow in person that is nearly impossible to capture on film, and many such items must be seen to be appreciated in full.
Conclusion
Historically, mahogany was an excellent choice for furniture makers due to its combination of beauty, workability and durability. These qualities are exactly what make these pieces very popular today. A well-maintained example of antique mahogany furniture from Chippendale, Sheraton or another famous designer can hold a fantastic combination of like-new beauty and a real sense of history. For enhancing any home, it is hard to beat the class of a beautiful, centuries-old hardwood table, chair or cabinet, so look online, in magazines and in brochures for examples that would suit your decor and your budget, and help to preserve a beautiful piece of history for decades longer.
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Victorian Style Furniture
By | March 28, 2011
Victorian style furniture is something that will never go out of vogue, which is perhaps due, in part, to its intriguing history. During the 19th century, Great Britain, led by Queen Victoria, became one of the most technologically advanced and prosperous nations in the world. Industrialization, mechanization, and new inventions resulted in considerable change and advancement for the English. The country quickly grew in assurance of its position as a leading world power.
Encouraged by the wealth of its new manufacturing methods and fledgling industries, the nation’s influence affected almost every part of the world and Great Britain soon became a new world of its own. Many of the old, accepted principles were challenged and they gave way to a new upper class of industrialists who eventually became what we know of today as “the Victorians.” Their prosperity was evidenced in their fine, new homes, which were spacious and impressive. Many of these extraordinary new homes featured styles seen in the upper classes, including the presence of multiple drawing rooms, as well as various parlors used for different purposes. Such exceptional homes required exceptional furnishings, and it was in this era that Victorian furniture made its debut.
Victorian Interior Design
Regardless of the vast changes within this period, the customs and traditions of the times were well preserved. People during this intriguing era behaved with polite and appropriate manners at all times, and this sophisticated attitude toward life was evident when one observes the furniture produced during this period. Victorian style furniture exuded great class and sophistication, and still offers these same characteristics when it is used in homes today.
Completely inspired by the Victorian era, Victorian interior design reflects the enormous shifts that took place in British society between 1837 to 1901. A very fascinating period, numerous individuals view this era as one of the most poetic and romantic periods in world history and enjoy this type of decor for their homes, as it offers a timeless style with which few interior designs can compete. When decorating a home, one can choose from authentic period pieces to contemporary homes with just a touch of Victorian-influenced interior decorations.
Characteristics of Victorian Style Furniture
Genuine Victorian period pieces tend to be large, and very effectively dominate any room in which it is placed. Victorian furnishings have intricate, detailed designs and carvings, many of which are inspired by nature. In the early 1900s, chiseling instruments and other innovative tools were used to achieve many of the carvings still seen today. A Victorian rocking chair is a favorite item of many Victorian furniture fans, and over the years, this piece was updated and reinvented to be more practical, rather than simply decorative.
Distinct characteristics of Victorian style furniture also include the use of a wide variety of woods. Very few pieces of Victorian furniture integrate the use of metal. Typically, darker woods are used in the manufacturing of Victorian style furniture, and almost all authentic, antique Victorian pieces are made from wood of this color. Dark mahogany furniture characterized by a red tint is a classic favorite of many individuals whose homes feature Victorian furniture. Other woods commonly used for such pieces include rosewood, bog oak and black walnut.
Victorian chairs are signature pieces of this period and the large, puffed cushions frequently seen with such chairs were originally designed to create a royal impression, making one feel almost as if he or she were seated on a throne. Similar to the chairs, beds and tables also featured large proportions and highly sophisticated designs.
An Ideal Choice for any Home
Those who have decided to decorate their homes with authentic, Victorian style furniture will be pleased to find that there are wide varieties of avenues through which this can be accomplished. One may choose to furnish his or her home little by little with authentic antiques, or may choose to purchase brand new furniture in genuine, Victorian style. Such furniture can even be purchased on the Internet, which will save the homeowner both time and money. Some individuals also opt to hire an interior designer who can offer professional opinion with regard to the pieces selected. However, regardless of one’s personal taste or preferences, any home, which contains Victorian style furniture, is sure to please the homeowner and impress his or her friends and acquaintances with its beauty and charm.
Topics: Victorian Period | Comments Off
Antique Victorian Furniture
By | March 16, 2011
Throughout history various cultures have introduced new architectural and art styles. Italian artists in 16th century Italy are given credit for changing art in immeasurable ways. While Italy is prided as one of the most creative centers for art and architecture Britain has also contributed to the history of arts by creating Victorian Style Furniture. Antique Victorian furniture will add an elegant ambiance to any room and is said to be one of the most elaborate and sophisticated styles seen throughout history. Striking pieces of Victorian style furniture are not difficult to identify even if you do not have a trained eye for furniture design. Understand how the concept and style of Victorian Furniture was developed and the benefits of this style of furniture if you have a passion for interior design that will never become outdated.
Victorian era furniture dates back to 19th century Britain. Unlike many stories found in the text books, the history that influenced the creation of the Victorian style is very interesting. Queen Victoria was everything but normal. While she was considered royalty in Britain she identified herself more closely to middle-class. As a descendant of a long line of royalty Queen Victoria went against the grain and did not adopt the aristocratic personality traits of her previous ancestors as expected. Going against the grain Queen Victoria choose to marry Albert Prince of Wales. This choice was the cause for controversy in Britain at the time because Albert was not a member of the royal family. While she was looked down upon by her family, the population of Britain was mesmerized by Victoria’s lifestyle.
Queen Victoria has a very unique taste for furniture and interior decor. During the early 19th century Britain stuck to a strict code of rigid style that went unchanged for decades. It was not until Queen Victoria that Britain developed a passion for furnishings and architecture unique to any other culture in the world. Her lavish taste and her love for intricate details quickly became the nation’s baromete for furniture style. As the Industrial Revolution continued in Britain and in other powerful countries, England’s furniture industry changed from small private cottages to large plants dedicated to mass production. The demand for Victorian furniture and the new technologies used by artisans of the time inspired a cultural shift in interior and exterior home styling.
When a society is led by a powerful character like Queen Victoria they will quickly adopt their leader’s way of life and sense of style. Similar to the way Americans want to dress like celebrities, Britain has wanted the best in Victorian furniture. The influence of Victorian furniture did not only affect Britain. As foreigners began to witness the new style they were intrigued with the intricate detail and classy appeal. Within 60 years Victorian furniture went from old world art to a style that influenced modern styles some 150 years later. While there are still some original Victorian era pieces in existence, most furnishings found today are influenced from the period and do not actually come from 1840′s Britain.
Antique Victorian furniture is made of thick, dark cherry woods and will contain ornate carvings and a high-tone gloss finishing. This style of furniture is often referred to as imposing because of the sheer size and weight of the pieces. A chair or a table would speak volumes about the owners status. Most pieces in the Victorian era were owned by wealthy and learned individuals. Now, interior designers and homeowners invest in Victorian furniture for the same purpose. Adding a few pieces to a modern room will add class, sophistication, and a sense of value.
Some of the modern pieces influenced by the Victorian era can be found manufactured by the most respected furniture producers in the nation. Most authentic furniture pieces are still nestled in Britain in the homes of the wealthy and privileged citizens. Traditional pieces have a beauty that no other furniture has managed to surpass. If you want a true piece of history in terms of the arts and the cultural shift in Britain invest in a piece of Victorian era furniture. Layout an interior design plan and picture the finished project in your mind. Once you are done, you will feel like you are living the lavish life just like Queen Victoria.
Topics: Victorian Period | Comments Off
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