Walnut furniture is furniture made from or veneered in walnut, a hardwood valued for its warm golden-brown colour, fine texture and richly figured grain. In England its first great period ran from roughly the Restoration of 1660 to the 1730s, a span often called the Age of Walnut, between the earlier dominance of oak and the later fashion for mahogany.
Most English walnut furniture of this era is veneered rather than solid, with figured veneers, burr walnut, crossbanding, feather banding and marquetry laid over an oak or pine carcase. Typical forms include chests on stands, bureau bookcases, kneehole desks, chests of drawers, cabriole-leg chairs and longcase clock cases of the William and Mary and Queen Anne periods. Walnut returned to favour in the mid-Victorian era, when burr walnut was used lavishly for loo tables, credenzas, davenports and display cabinets. Collectors look for faded, mellow colour, original veneers free of heavy restoration, good figure and period handles. Walnut is prone to woodworm and veneer lifting, so condition should be checked carefully, but well-preserved pieces have a warmth that suits both period and contemporary rooms.
