Furniture woods are the timbers used in making furniture, each chosen for its particular qualities of strength, stability, colour, grain and ease of working. The history of English furniture is closely tied to the availability and fashion for different woods, and identifying the timber is one of the first steps in dating and assessing a piece.
Oak dominated until the late seventeenth century, followed by walnut, which was favoured for its figure until around 1730, when imported mahogany became the leading cabinet wood. Satinwood was fashionable in the late eighteenth century, and rosewood was widely used during the Regency and early Victorian periods. Country makers used native timbers such as elm, ash, beech, yew, cherry and pine. Secondary woods, including pine, oak and deal, were used for carcasses, drawer linings and backboards, and their choice can help indicate origin and date. Exotic woods such as ebony, kingwood, tulipwood, amboyna and zebrawood were used for veneers, crossbanding and inlay. Understanding furniture woods helps collectors recognise quality, originality and later alterations.
