About Rustic Furniture


We define rustic furniture as furniture that is constructed partly or wholly of locally found materials such as branches, roots, bark, burls and other natural forms.  While the term rustic is often used to describe a primitive, distressed, or even crude object, that is not the intention here.  Some rustic furniture pieces may be primitive or simple, but most incorporate sophistication in design or construction.  Quality rustic furniture accents the sculptural beauty, contrasting textures, and whimsical shapes of materials found in nature.

Rustic Furniture Maker, New York State

 

The rustic tradition in North America began in the second half of the 19th century in wilderness resort areas such as the Adirondack region of New York.   Other areas where rustic style became popular include lakes regions of the Northeast, upper Midwest and Canada; the southern Appalachians; and western mountain states.  Although the term "Adirondack" is often used to describe rustic furniture, this is misleading given the variety of regions where it was made.

 


                        Table made by Rev. Ben Davis, circa 1920
Antique rustic furniture can be divided into two categories: unique pieces made and designed by an individual craftsman, and pieces manufactured in standard styles by commercial companies.  The makers of unique rustic furniture rarely signed their work, so many of the pieces that survive today are by unknown makers.  However, attributions to known makers can be made by comparing materials, design, and construction techniques with pieces by recognized makers.  Ernest Stowe from the Adirondacks, Thomas Molesworth from Wyoming, and Reverend Ben Davis from North Carolina are several well-known rustic furniture makers from the first half of the 20th century.  

The regional origin of a piece can also be determined by the materials used and design styles.  The vernacular forms of hand crafted rustic furniture and creative decorative details such as mosaic twig work have helped to establish rustic furnishings as an important genre of American folk art.

 


Factory production of rustic furniture was a response to the growing popularity of handmade rustic furniture. Most manufactured rustic furniture was constructed from hickory poles by companies in Indiana. It is usually possible to identify where and when a piece of hickory furniture was made by referring to the original catalogs that companies such as The Old Hickory Furniture Company distributed to market their furniture.


Pair of Windsor Chairs by Old Hickory Furniture Company, circa 1945


Vintage Old Hickory Catalog

For more background on unique rustic furniture and hickory furniture, see the following references:

Adirondack Furniture and the Rustic Tradition
by Craig Gilborn (1987)

A History of the Old Hickory Chair Company and the Indiana Hickory Furniture Movement
by Ralph Kylloe (2002)

 

Cherry Gallery    P.O. Box 1208    Damariscotta, ME   04543    207-563-5639  info@cherrygallery.com