Oak is a strong, durable hardwood that was the principal timber for English furniture and joinery until the late seventeenth century, a period often described as the Age of Oak. Its coarse, open grain, natural resistance to decay and great strength made it ideal for chests, coffers, tables, joint stools, court cupboards, settles and wall panelling.
English oak is easily recognised by its pronounced grain and, when quarter-sawn, by the silvery flecks known as medullary rays. Over centuries of use and polishing, old oak develops a deep, mellow colour and patina that is highly prized and very difficult to imitate. Although walnut and later mahogany replaced oak in fashionable furniture, oak remained the timber of choice for country furniture throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and enjoyed a strong revival during the Victorian Gothic, Arts and Crafts and Edwardian periods. Original surface, colour and honest construction are key considerations when assessing antique oak.
