RUSTIC FURNITURE: The Materials
Posted By admin on June 13, 2011
Rustic furniture, by definition, is any type of furniture which is manufactured from natural materials such as twigs, logs and sticks and is left unfinished, is simply waxed and/ or stained – i.e., no high-gloss varnishes, paint, sanding, etc. Nowadays, such style of furniture making is considered an art form. Today, those individuals who manufacture rustic furniture do so one piece at a time and are considered artisans.
Every culture, worldwide, has its own version of rustic furniture and different regions use the different woods and materials available to them for manufacturing these exquisite pieces. For example, these artisans in Mexico are incorporating materials such as copper, marble, slate, cactus and even animal skins into the different styles of rustic furniture to give them that special twist. The addition of these stones and materials set them aside from the usual and turns each piece into an individual piece of art.
THE MATERIALS
Different types of woods are used in the manufacturing of rustic furniture. Some of the most common woods used are pine, cedar, logs, hickory, oak, walnut and the branches of the willow tree.
THE PINES OF MEXICO
The number of pine species currently in Mexico in unknown. Some say 50 while others go as high as 70, with approximately 10 species on the verge of extinction.
The most common Mexican pine species are Pinus oocarpa, Pinus pseudostrobus, Pinus montezumae, Pinus michoacana, Pinus engelmannii and Pinus durangensis. The type of pine used for rustic furniture making is the one belonging to the subgroup Diploxylon, of the hard pine species and the Haploxylon sub-group belonging to the soft pine species. (maph49galeon.com) The pines are found in the mountainous regions of Mexico and cover approximately 34% of that country’s forested area.
Pine is one of the most popular woods used in the manufacturing of rustic furniture in that country.
CEDAR AND RUSTIC LOG
The Eastern Red and White Cedars, native to North America and the Western Red Cedar found in the Northwest are the preferred species used in the manufacturing of rustic furniture in those regions of the United States. The Mexican White Cedar and the Mountain Cedar are used in Mexico, South Central United States and Central America for this same purpose. “One of the more beautiful kinds of cedar is aromatic cedar. Another variety – Northern White – weathers to a beautiful silvery gray if untreated and exposed to the elements. Northern white cedar can withstand the elements for years. You can expect between 20-50 years of useful life out of your rustic furnishings if you choose cedar wood.” (makingcedarfurniture .com)
Rustic furniture made from log is extremely versatile. You may chose from designs composed of actual untreated logs with the “knotty look”, or the smooth lines of pine and cedar log planks – and, there’s probably nothing more durable and heavy, as far as furniture is concerned.
HICKORY
In the United States, today, the Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio Amish are renowned for manufacturing rustic furniture made from hickory.
“In the early 1800’s pioneers crossing the Appalachian Mountains began to harvest and make use of the hickory saplings, a small diameter tree that grew throughout the Midwest…..The diameter rarely exceeds two to three inches yet the trees can be twenty to thirty years old making the material very dense, flexible and perfectly suited for use in making furniture. Stronger then oak, it has been the wood of choice for Appalachian furniture for centuries.” (misty mountain furniture .com)
OAK
This is a tree which has been around Europe since the Middle Ages and was widely used in furniture making due to its durability, strength, availability and beauty. One may find oak in colors ranging from light golden to medium brown. It became even more sought after for this endeavor when it was discovered to be resistant to mold and insects. (antiqueoakfurniture .com)
“Oak wood, from Quercus robur and Quercus petraea….was the principal timber used in the construction of European timber-framed buildings. Today oak wood is still commonly used for furniture making and flooring….. ” (wikipedia .org)
Types of oaks found worldwide include “The red oaks of North America, Central America and northern South America; the species called the white oaks grow in Europe, Asia and North America; the Canyon live oak and its relatives in southwest United States and northwest Mexico; the Hungarian oak and the Turkey oak and its relatives of Europe and Asia .” (buzzle .com)
WALNUT
Of all the woods used in the manufacturing of rustic furniture, walnut may be the one with the most dramatic character. Thick, large slabs of this sturdy wood are used as tables as well as other furniture pieces. American black walnut is a very popular choice due to its dark, smoky color, which matches with just about any décor.
WILLOW
Rustic furniture made from willow is normally in the form of bent twig and is made from the branches of the tree. Chairs and rockers made from willow are credited to the Amish of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. These chairs are considered to be some of the most comfortable pieces of furniture which maintain their shape and comfort even as long as 50 years after being made and used.
OTHER WOODS
In Florida you may find rustic furniture made from cypress trees; the Rocky Mountain and the Northwest use lodge pole pines and in the Southwest rustic furniture is made from scrub pine. (books.Google.com) Rocky Mountain Maple is another very popular wood found in that region, which is widely used in rustic furniture making.
RECLAIMED MATERIALS
Reclaimed items such as old doors, hinges and other hardware, distressed wood from old barns and even pieces of old fences are some of the materials currently being used in rustic furniture.
OTHER STUFF
Other materials involved in the manufacture of rustic furniture include, but are not limited to deer and elk antlers, horns, hoofs and animal skins.
The cacti is another relatively new material being used in the manufacturing of rustic furniture. “….genuine Quisco cactus inlay planks from northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. The natural death of cactus wood takes years, and during this period of decay its exposure to sun, wind and sand gives the cactus wood its diverse character and color tones.” (lafuente.com)
Burl wood, though not actually a wood, is something that rustic furniture makers crave. It is a type of growth – similar to fungi, “commonly found on tree trunks, roots and branches that causes the grain to grow in a deformed way. Mold or insect infestations are the most common causes for this condition which often results in the death of the tree. Burl wood can be found on many different species of trees, including redwood, spruce, maple and walnut. The spectacular patterns in burl wood greatly enhance the beauty of rustic furniture made from it.” (buzzle .com)
INLAYS
Different types of materials are currently being used either as inlays or incorporated into the individual rustic pieces to give them an even more individual flare.
COPPER
The village of Santa Clara del Cobre also known as Villa Escalante, in Mexico, is world renowned for its rustic furniture inlaid with recycled copper. Normally, these pieces are very large and are sold as credenzas, hutches and sideboards. More recent designs include smaller pieces such as tops for coffee and end tables as well as dining room tables, desks and even sinks.
Using hammer and anvil in the same manner as their predecessors did before Mexico became a Spanish colony, the village coppersmiths pound, by hand, the ingots of molten copper until a paper smooth finish is attained. During the firing process the colors, mainly dark reds, oranges, browns, yellows and blacks are added to the process in random patterns and quantities ensuring that no two pieces are alike. (lafuente.com)
The only finishing used on these exquisite pieces of rustic furniture is a clear paste wax which is hand-rubbed to a high gloss to protect the pieces.
MARBLE, SLATE AND OTHER STONES
From the Mayan Riviera comes rustic furniture designed with marble inlay detailing. The patterns are either geometric (individual, hand laid tiles) or pieces of cut marble arranged to form a specific design such as a star.
The color of the marble is generally of soft earth tones which matches the roughness and colors of the wood. In the case of cut designs, the marble may be of different shades which make the piece of furniture even more unique.
“Slate is derived from shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism.” The colors of slate vary from the most usual grey to purple, green and even cyan. In the United States slate is found in Eastern PA, Virginia, Vermont and Upper New York State. In South America, Brazil is the largest exporter of slate. (Wikipedia.org) Slate, in rustic furniture, is normally placed as accent pieces on furniture tops. (lafuente.com)
Other stones used for this type of rustic furniture making include turquoise, fossils, azurite, geode, soapstone and ammonite.
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.
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