Early american furniture

             During the earliest settlements of North America, colonists brought with them the traditions of Europe. Their life styles and heritage were a direct reflection of their mother countries. Their architecture and furnishings also mirrored those traditions. Settlers coming from various countries brought with them their specific style and furniture building techniques. In the beginning, furniture was mainly imported and used as models for builders. They also referred to patterns and design books to create furniture based on the European originals. Later, they began to create new and unique pieces designed and built as American furniture (Butler, 20).
             Carpenters made American furniture by hand with simple tools, which made the construction process very slow. Larger furniture makers had specialists that performed certain tasks to speed the manufacturing process. Joiners used tools such as a drawknife or chisels to make the joints that held furniture together. Turners used a lathe to spin wood while carving out table legs, spindles for chair backs, or bun feet for chests. Though turners or joiners were not as skilled craftsmen as the carpenter himself, they were nevertheless very important to the production of a piece. Hardwoods such as oak and walnut, and softwoods like pine and spruce, were harvested domestically, however many exotic woods were also shipped to the Americas (Campbell – Chambliss, "Origins"; Comstock 312).
             Jacobean furniture was the first furniture that was made in the Americas. This period lasted from 1603 until 1668. The style Jacobean first originated in England, and was named after James I who was the sovereign ruler of England, Ireland, and Scotland at the time. Significant characteristics of this style were low relief carvings and mortis and tennon joints held together by pegs. Some veneering and inlays were used and pieces were painted which was very uncommon until this time. This s...

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