Rustic Furniture

Posted By admin on May 10, 2011

designspongeonline.com

Image above: illustration by Julia Rothman

I feel as if I’ve been heralding the arrival of spring for eons. If you live somewhere with a mild climate (or are enjoying an Australian summer), you’re probably sick of hearing about our long, cold winter. But then, you live somewhere with a mild climate (or are enjoying an Australian summer), so I don’t really feel that sorry for you. We’ve finally had a little taste of warm weather, and I’m starving for more. As a kid, my family would spend every summer hiking and fishing in Mammoth Mountain and these sorts of rustic, twig chairs would be everywhere. So now, whenever I see twig furniture, I feel like summer’s on the way (that and I’m looking for a fishing pole). — Amy A.

Image above: Pair of twig chairs in original varnish. These served in a pulpit in a church in Rainsburg, PA. from The Melrose Project

There are two basic types of rustic furniture construction: twig work and bentwood. For bentwood construction, the twigs are harvested fresh and then steamed (to make them soft) and bent in a variety of directions (think the bentwood design classic — the Thonet chair). In twig work, sticks are usually peeled and then assembled into structures. Twig chairs made their way to English gardens in the 18th century via China. Eighteenth century Brits had an insatiable appetite for all things Chinese and that, combined with the rise of the great landscape gardens with their follies and gazebos, meant that there was a demand for chairs made in naturalistic forms.

Image above from top: Gardner’s Willo’work by Andrew Gardner and set of 1930s twig furniture from 1st dibs

In colonial America, gentry usually carted common chairs outside whenever the weather permitted. Gardens and yards were a much-welcomed extension of cramped indoor living spaces. The real moment for rustic, naturalistic furniture in America came in the 20th century when the rustic furniture satisfied dual economic sectors – those suffering from the Great Depression, who made their own furniture out of whatever materials were available and wealthier Americans whose desire to escape to the country created a fascination with camps and ranches.

For more information on Mexican furniture, rustic furniture, and prices on rustic furniture, please visit our rustic Mexican furniture informational site.

For more information on Mexican furniture, rustic furnitures, and prices on rustic furniture, please visit our rustic Mexican pine furniture informational site.

For more information on Southwest furniture, Southwest rustic furniture, and prices on rustic furniture, please visit our Southwest rustic furnitureinformational site.

For more information on Southwest furniture, Southwest rustic furniture, and prices on rustic furniture, please visit our Southwest furniture informational site.

Category: Camp Furniture, Custom Rustic Furniture, Green Rustic Furniture, Natural Furnishings, Outdoors Rustic Furniture, Patio Rustic Furniture, Rustic outdoor furniture, Twig furniture, Willow rustic furniture, general furniture, rustic furniture, rustic furnitures
Tags: mexican furniture, Mexican pine furniture, pine furniture, rustic furniture, rustic pine furniture, southwest furniture