Oak is one of nature’s greatest sources of furniture making material. It is amazingly durable and highly resistant to all manner of bad treatment, both from humans and insects. This beautiful hardwood has been used for hundreds of years to craft all type of furniture.
The renaissance of antique oak furniture was in the early part of the 16th century and lasted well into 17th century. This period is seen as the doyen of furniture design and craftsmanship and early pieces are prized around the world as collectors items of the work of the best furniture makers the world has ever seen. The early designs were basically designed as either Tudor or Jacobean.
The Jacobean period in England is named after the era of King James the first who reigned for the first quarter of the 17th century. The furniture of this period was similar in design to that made in the Elizabethan era and was very basic, being made from oak and with little trimmings such as carving or upholstery. Fine quality pieces of furniture from this period are quite rare and as such they command a high price at auction, and finding antique reproductions for this period is quite common. The place to see the best examples are the many museums in England which still contain examples of the very high craftsmanship exhibited by the furniture makers of this era. Carpentry was considered a high skill in the 17th century and it was common for apprentices to take 7 years to gain membership of the Carpenters Guild of Craftsmen.
The Tudor style was also very basic and resembled the medieval furniture which it displaced. The gulf between rich and poor was huge and only the rich could afford basic furniture such as beds, tables and chairs. They were considered a luxury item signifying great wealth. Even if you visited a wealthy person, it was normal that only the house owners themselves would have chairs and as a guest you would have a basic stool or bench on which to sit. This was also true of beds and if you were poor then you slept on straw on the floor. The rich had real beds crafted from oak and which were often four posters.
If you want to buy a piece of oak antique furniture, then look in antique shops and auction houses for a decent piece. It’s easy to buy any old piece but this will give you no joy and satisfaction from ownership. A real antique will be exquisitely made and bring something new to your life. Also be careful that what you are buying is a true antique. There are many reproductions around and although many of these are accurate, they do not command such high prices. A quick check of the age of a piece is to look inside the drawers. If you see dovetail joints that are exactly the same size and shape then it is likely that they have been made by machine and therefore the piece is a more modern reproduction. Similarly if glue is apparent then it’s likely to be modern. Look carefully at any nails that exist in the piece. If they have square heads rather than round, then it’s highly likely to date from the 18th century or earlier when such nails were the only type that existed.