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The History of Oak use in Furniture

You probably have an idea of oak wood in your head, you probably don't even think about it. If you are looking for furniture made from oak, you might think to yourself you have a pretty good idea what it looks like. It might surprise you to know that we have over 20 different varieties of oak, each with their own particular graining, tone and look. It's easy to think that all oak is alike, for example a Rustic oak bedside with its darkened distressed tone, gives a kind of farm house feel to a room, when contrasted to a Harvard oak bedside with its clean and crisp lines and lighter tones which give a modern feel to a room. The main two things to consider when choosing furniture in oak are the grain and the tone. When you order a piece from us be sure to consider the tones and texture of the room it will feature in. Take a close look at the 20+ different ranges of oak we carry. When you have considered the tone and grain of the oak that appeals to you, the next thing to consider is the style. Rustic Oak and Chunky oak is just that, it has a noticeably thicker styling in the legs, frames and tops of some of the bedside tables and wardrobes. When combined with the distressed finish, surface marks and rounded corners, of the rustic oak range. Something you should also consider is French Style Oak. This styling has tasteful elegance of French design. French style oak stands out because of the curved lines and finish of feet and top of the piece. Typically French style oak is distinguishable by the curved taped lips of the top and feet. This is a departure from most other oak ranges which have simple straight lines. If you are looking for something a little bit different then our Oxford Oak and London Oak ranges offer lighter shades of oak, that would not look out of place in a sunnier climate. Devon Oak is finished with a very soft sheen lacquer making it hugely practical for everyday life. Bordeaux rustic oak range is also a more darker traditional oak and has a rustic charm of an old heirloom. It has been purposefully designed and finished with distressing to authentically replicate that of an antique piece of furniture. Our Oxford oak collection allows you to decide on the handle type, you can choose from square rustic metal, round oak knob or modern stainless steel. The choice of handle put the final stamp on your oak styling and can completely change the feel of a piece.

The history of furniture made from oak

Oak given its latin name of 'Quercus' has been used in furniture design for over a millennium, in the Northern hemisphere. Oak use in furniture in the UK became widely used during the middle ages and was known for its strength, hence the expression "stronger than oak". Oak wood was typically customised to include intricate carvings that were often relevant to nobles, royalty and the church. With the start of the industrial revolution and the onset of World War 1 Oak supplies in the UK were severely depleted. North American Oak has become a mainstay in the oak market globally. The largest North American oak tree is the mighty red oak (Quercus rubra) growing over 134 feet. In north America there are over 60 Species of oak tree, and over 400 species of oak globally, So you can Imagine that oak from North America alone can offer a great deal of variety and texture.

Caring for your new oak piece

It is easy to take for granted that oak is a natural product, because of oaks hardiness. Oak has been used for centuries in by armies and in naval vessels, because of its tough durable qualities, but all oak as hardy as it is, will if not cared for, warp and split. Often damage to oak and hardwood furniture is typically worse in new pieces of furniture. This is because older and antique wooden furniture as there pieces have typically been drying out since it was created. With newer oak and hardwood furniture, it is essential that when the wood is first harvested the dehydration process takes places gradually. This is something that is continually pressured due to manufacturing pressures. Over centuries this process known as 'seasoning' has been refined. Even with seasoned wood, consideration must be given to the fact that an Oak tree transported thousands of litres of water around its trunk, branches and leafs, If that water is extracted too quickly the wood contracts and cracks. Equally if the dehydration process is uneven or one part of the furniture is exposed to a heat source warping can occur. Oak is an extremely durable and desirable material to make furniture from, hence it is typically more expensive than Pine or Ash furniture. When making your purchase of furniture in oak you can be assured you are getting one of natures' most hardy substances, and Oak like all materials, if cared for can literally last generations. When you are installing your new piece of furniture, consideration should be made as to where the piece is exposed to heat and moisture. This can be a problem in a typical centrally heated home where the atmosphere can be even dryer and warmer than where the oak was originally seasoned, even treated oak is a living breathing piece of furniture that needs to be cared for to stand the test of time. Most modern designed take into consideration the natural properties of Oak and hard wood furniture. With oak chests, the drawers for example, a thought has been spared to make the frames and draws to tolerate the natural expanding and contracting of the wood. That being said any new piece of furniture should be given some breathing room if it is to be installed near a radiator or heat source.

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