Wood is the hard, fibrous material that forms the trunks and branches of trees, and it has been the principal material for furniture, interiors and countless everyday objects throughout history. Woods are broadly divided into hardwoods, from broad-leaved trees such as oak, walnut, mahogany, ash and beech, and softwoods, from conifers such as pine, fir, yew and cedar, although the terms refer to botanical type rather than actual hardness.
Each wood has distinctive qualities of colour, grain, strength and workability that suited it to particular uses: oak for strength, walnut and mahogany for fine furniture and veneers, beech for chair frames, elm for seats, and fruitwoods for country pieces and small turned objects. Exotic timbers such as rosewood, satinwood and ebony were imported for decoration and inlay. Wood changes over time, oxidising and developing patina, shrinking across the grain and showing wear, all of which help identify genuine age. Understanding woods is one of the most useful skills for anyone collecting antique furniture.
