By Ian Langmann

When confronted with an antique in an evaluation, my primary tool is history. History helps me establish the age of a piece before having to delve too deep into research books. By knowing that the "coffee table" really didn't come into use until the 1920's, and that antiques are generally considered items over 100 years old, one cannot for example have an antique coffee table, at least not for another 20 years or so. A knowledge of styles and prices is vital but a good grasp of history is likely the most important tool an appraiser or collector can have.

Furniture is probably the oldest and most practical form of antique. With the rare exception of items for Royalty and nobility, most furniture was utilitarian. From this rather humble beginning furniture became more complex culminating in the huge assortment of furniture we have available today.

THE BEGINNING

With obvious disagreement as to the exact sequence, most experts would agree that furniture "technology" started with the chair, chest and table. The earliest recorded piece is the chair in Egypt around 3000 BC. The chest was likely next, to help store and secure items. Man could now sit on his chair at his wooden chest, with slight discomfort, until he brilliantly invented the table. With these three basic elements man could relax seated in his chair at his table, secure in the knowledge that his prize possessions were secure in his chest, and start to wonder, experiment and expand his world.

EUROPE

Although little has survived from before 1000 AD, documents and drawings do give us a glimpse into the history of furniture. Since most of my experience is in European furniture I will use it to help illustrate the evolution of furniture "technology". (These are also the pieces a Canadian collector is most likely to find). To do this effectively I will make broad generalities to which there are always exceptions.

Generally speaking the chest, or coffer, remained much the same from its invention up until the 14^th century when it sported a single drawer. This was followed by an all-drawer model in the 16^th century inspiring the name chest-of-drawers. A chest of drawers on raised feet (high boy) and then stacked (chest-on-chest) arrived in the 17^th century.

Nobility drove furniture "technology" as they vied to have the most impressive piece and since money was usually no object these otherwise humble pieces quickly became statements of the Nobility's, if not the countries, wealth. Furniture up to this point was usually made from domestic woods like walnut, oak and pine. Starting in the 17^th century, the use of exotic wood like mahogany, rosewood and ebony, which were only available from distant colonies in The Bahamas, South America, Africa and India, made pieces made from these woods extremely desirable.

The 18^th century saw increased refinement in design and construction culminating with Thomas Chippendale publishing The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker's Director in 1754. This catalogue of his designs was the first of its kind and with great illustrations helped spread his ideas into workshops far removed from his shop in England. Any furniture builder could take Chippendale's designs and employ them in their shop. Although there were others that came after, this catalogue started the "standardization" of style and design that would be used 80 years later during the industrial revolution.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

The 19^th century saw the most rapid change in furniture "technology" when in the 1840's machines displaced cabinet-makers in furniture construction. The wood used in construction prior to this would have been hand-hewn and slightly wavy on the underside. The wood now was machine planed and of universal thickness and feel. Increased globalization meant that exotic wood now arrived in Europe in greater quantity at lower prices. With the cost of production reduced retail prices also fell and "middle" and "lower class" people could buy the specialty furniture they had previously thought unobtainable.

THE "SUITE" ERA

By the end of the 19^th century furniture did not only come one piece at a time, it now also came in sets. Thus arrived the bedroom suite with matching bed, side tables, armoire, and chest of drawers. Before this, pieces may have been of similar style, barley twist for example, but probably not from the same maker or period.

It is for this reason that you cannot have a five piece, Cromwellian period, barley twist bedroom suite. You can, however, have a five piece, Cromwellian style, barley twist bedroom suite, from the late 19 or early 20^th century! The first example likely never existed, the second worth $1500 to $15,000.

Although just now becoming "antiques" the furniture designs of the late 19^th and early 20^th century, such as Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts, are now demanding the respect they deserve. These styles, considered utilitarian by some, expanded on the "standardization" principles developed the century before.

Being Late October we are starting the antique "season" where there are a lot of art and antique shows both international and local. Check your paper and visit your favorite antique shops to help find your next treasure. Remember know what you buy and buy what you like.

This quick history should hopefully make you look at antique furniture through the eyes of an appraiser using your knowledge as a Historian, Detective and Technician. Happy hunting.

Copyright 1999

By Ian Langmann