| Although wood is one of the oldest building materials it | | | | that was available. Wood needs to be harvested and |
| was not necessarily the first material used for furniture. | | | | allowed to grow and as the supply runs low the prices |
| It is believed that rock was first used to make furniture. | | | | go higher. |
| It was quickly realized that this was not a viable | | | | Modern technology makes it possible for manmade |
| material and wood quickly replaced rock as the most | | | | materials to be used in furniture making. These |
| common material for building furniture. From this use of | | | | materials are not harvested and do not have an |
| wood rose the popularity of oak furniture. | | | | eventual shortage of availability. Therefore plastic and |
| There are many different types of wood that could be | | | | other synthetic materials become a popular choice for |
| used for furniture manufacturing what makes oak so | | | | making furniture. These materials are also less |
| popular? | | | | expensive to produce than natural materials. |
| The first craftsmen to attempt to work with oak on a | | | | Although man made materials may be cheaper and |
| regular basis were Europeans. Oak was readily | | | | more readily available they do not have the same |
| available in the dark ages in Europe and so it became | | | | appearance as oak and so a desire to have |
| a natural choice for furniture making. It was found out | | | | handmade oak furniture still prevails. People are |
| that oak was strong and durable and made a great | | | | typically willing to pay a little more for natural materials |
| building material for furniture. It was the availability of | | | | than to purchase less expensive man made materials. |
| oak that made it very popular with European | | | | When making handmade furniture it is common to not |
| craftsmen. | | | | use nails or screws. Craftsmen use the same |
| It was also realized early on that oak did not attract | | | | techniques that have been used for centuries. One of |
| insects or mold. This was a serious consideration | | | | the most popular methods of making connections |
| when building furniture. No one wants a material that | | | | between pieces of wood in furniture making includes |
| would attract mold or bugs. Modern technology tells us | | | | Dovetailing. This technique involves connect two pieces |
| that oak contains materials in its chemical composition | | | | together via grooves and knob, much in the way a |
| that help to deter mold and insects, these components | | | | puzzle goes together. |
| are known as tannins and can be found in many | | | | As long as there are craftsmen who offer handmade |
| natural items such as grape skins. | | | | furniture there will always be a desire for custom |
| The combination of availability and resistance to | | | | made oak furniture. Although there are many different |
| insects and mold made oak popular. The problem with | | | | styles of wood that are available the most common |
| using natural materials is that eventually there | | | | and popular still tends to be oak. All of the elements |
| availability is limited. This was the case with oak and as | | | | that have made oak a popular choice for centuries still |
| more and more was used for furniture making the less | | | | make it a popular choice today. |