Furniture
Furniture: function, materials and manufacture
Furniture comprises objects used for sitting, resting, eating, working and storage. It includes chairs, benches, sofas, tables, beds, cupboards and chests of drawers. A piece can be considered as a functional object, a product of craftsmanship and an example of design. These are different aspects of the same object.
Surface and core can differ
Solid wood and veneered construction require different descriptions. Skovby explains, for example, that its sliced veneer is glued to particleboard or MDF, with veneer or solid wood edges. This describes its own production, rather than all veneered furniture. Read more about wood veneer in furniture.
Joints and shaping
A tenon fits into a corresponding mortise; dovetails interlock and are used in drawers. The V&A’s making guide demonstrates both joints. It also shows injection-moulded plastic in the Panton chair. Furniture manufacture thus includes several techniques beyond carving wood.
A cabinet of about 1700
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 59.108 is a Paris cabinet of about 1700, attributed to André-Charles Boulle. Its oak structure carries ebony veneer, brass, tortoiseshell and gilt bronze among other materials. “Attributed to” expresses a museum assessment, rather than a conclusive signature. Surface and supporting structure are different material layers.
Industrial production: chair number 14
Philadelphia Museum of Art gives 1859 as the design date for Thonet’s model 14. Its described example comprises six bent beechwood components joined with screws and nuts. Parts could be packed and shipped before assembly, an important distinction from transporting a fully assembled piece.
Design date does not date an individual piece
The V&A records model 14 examples from about 1859 and about 1887 to 1900. It describes steam-bending solid wood as a development following experiments with glued veneer layers. One model name can therefore span different production periods. A similar shape alone cannot date a used example.
Norwegian design: Siesta and distinct roles
Nelson-Atkins Museum’s Siesta, 2011.60.1, dates to about 1965. It distinguishes Ingmar Relling as designer, Vestlandske Møbelfabrikk as manufacturer and Westnofa as retailer. The chair has a bent laminated wooden frame, canvas and leather cushion. These details concern the museum object; other variants need not share all its materials.
Evidence before attribution
Compare labels, stamps and model numbers with catalogues, dimensions, construction and known provenance. Record whether a name identifies a designer, factory or retailer. Style terms and individual joint details are clues to assess in context, rather than proof on their own. Distinguish later repairs and reupholstery from original construction.
Use, moving and condition
The Canadian Conservation Institute explains that wood swells and shrinks with humidity, potentially damaging joints and finishes. Check loose parts before moving, support furniture at strong structural points and lift rather than drag it. Avoid direct sun and positions close to heat sources. Extensive repairs warrant specialist assessment.
Assess the finish before refurbishment
The museum guidance on furniture finishes recommends identifying the coating, its stability and previous treatments before cleaning. Paint, varnish, oil and wax need not respond to the same method. Sanding or a new treatment can alter historical evidence. Consult a furniture conservator where coatings are uncertain or lifting.
Value and further steps
Age or a familiar design name guarantees neither a selling price nor future value. Establish identity, originality, function, condition and interventions before comparing documented sales of equivalent furniture. Explore furniture at OBA; each product page should provide dimensions, construction and condition.
Specialist sources
Skovby: Veneer furniture; V&A: How was it made? Furniture; The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Cabinet, 59.108; V&A: Thonet and the invention of bentwood furniture; Philadelphia Museum of Art: Chair, Model No. 14; Nelson-Atkins Museum: Siesta Chair, 2011.60.1; Canadian Conservation Institute: Basic care, furniture and wood; Canadian Conservation Institute: Care of Furniture Finishes.
