Softwood is timber cut from coniferous trees, such as pine, fir, spruce, larch and cedar. The name describes a botanical group rather than the actual hardness of the wood, and some softwoods, notably yew, are harder than many hardwoods. Softwoods generally grow quickly, produce long straight lengths and are easy to work, which made them economical for building and joinery.
In English furniture making softwoods were widely used for parts that were not meant to be seen, including the carcases of veneered chests, drawer linings, backboards and the cores of gilded mirror frames and giltwood tables. Imported Baltic pine, known as deal, was also used for kitchen dressers, tables, cupboards and estate furniture, which was usually painted or grained to imitate more expensive timbers. Much of the stripped pine sold in recent decades was originally painted, and surviving original paint is now increasingly valued. Cedar was prized for lining drawers and boxes because of its scent and resistance to insects. When assessing a piece, the type of secondary softwood and the way it has aged can offer useful clues to date and origin.
