Antique Canadian Furniture- A Short History For Antique Furniture Collectors
Canadian furniture has played an important role in the designing of our present furniture. The earliest pieces were very crude and minimal in design. They were made out of necessity so that they could sustain a harsh environment. Pieces of antique Canadian furniture like cupboards, benches, tables, storage were made to fulfill the need of people at that point of time. Earliest furniture, that is of the 18th century, was popularly known as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. But very little of it has survived now. The original Canadian furniture makers showed development in furniture making as they came in contact with various people who migrated to this country. The first people were the French who came in 1650s and made furniture similar to that found in French style. Later on English and American influenced could also be noticed in the same.
So from this period to 18th century, furniture styles of Louis XIII France dominated Canadian furniture making. That is why Canadian chairs, which were made of Maple or birch, were made in more curving and elaborate looks, in a style reminiscent of their French counterparts. The most influencing changes in Canadian furniture making came after the contact of Regence and Louis XV and Rococo style in 1760 and there on. With this style spirals, shells and scrolls were beautifully blended into Canadian designs. Despite so much amalgamation, Canadian furniture had its own uniqueness. Pine was used in most of the woodwork although walnut and butternut was also popular. The Canadian chest which was majorly used in all the furniture made by them was mostly in simple design and sometimes painted with geometrical front panels and curved panels. Canadian country chairs and stools were quite primitive in design and their legs were made square or folded in ornamented patterns. This style, however, was inspired by French designs but later Canadians made it more stylized, elegant and with heavier decoration. Even the Windsor chair, which was very famous, was the result of British influence. Canadian armoires, that is a large and often ornate cabinet, was made with paneled doors they were decorated in unique designs. Armories were so famous that they were made in huge numbers in the 18th century. There designs were inspired from the French Renaissance and the era of Louis 13th and 15th. Apart from all these Canadian woodworkers also specialized in making modest country furniture like cash boxes, sideboards, and food larders. This furniture was considered as being utilitarian. Thus, Canada history as we can see had played major in showing the fusion of various culture designing. The product we generally see in the form of antique Canadian furniture was a kind of culmination of furniture style of various countries into one. The major thing to note is that Canadians had allowed all immigrants not only to preserve their culture but even promote that. |