Wood veneer furniture history book

A thousand years ago, the chinese shaved wood and glued it together for use in furniture. The wood came from native acacias, local sycamore, and tamarisk trees. Techniques for decorating wood with veneer have been around for a while. This produces a mirrorimage effect, similar to opening the pages of a book, and works especially well with curly figured veneers such as quartered figured. Types of veneer raw wood veneer this is the most common veneer for exotic wood species and figures. The slicing pro cess is con trolled by a number of variables. From book that accompanied the 1972 museum of modern art exhibition. Real wood desktops float on metal posts for a sophisticated, executive look. Producing veneer entails slicing a thin layer of wood of uniform thickness from a log. Book matched wood doors or bookmatched wood anything would have.

Were also proud to offer some of the finest paperbacked and 2ply wood veneer available in addition to accurate measurements and real. Plywood and veneer applications formwood industries. Later the piano industry became the first industry in north america to use plywood. This book offers extensive coverage of the craft including. May 12, 2017 the construction method for veneer furniture is similar to laminate furniture, with the primary difference being the actual material used as the outer layer. Nov 20, 2018 a new furniture form of this period was the tilting tea table. Marwood has a wide variety of veneers available, including exotics and. Com, we distribute wood veneer to furniture, door, panel and automotive markets. It is to be distinguished from two allied processes. A concise history of early american period furniture. When selecting logs, we work alongside landowners, as well as foresters, to responsibly harvest trees. This produces a mirrorimage effect, similar to opening the pages of a book, and works especially well with curly figured veneers such as quartered figured anigre, curly sycamore and curly maple.

Contact us for more information or wood veneer installation tips and instructions. It can be applied to a substrate with cold press veneer glue with a vacuum press or clamping press. Depressionera furniture makers employed lots of veneer work in their pieces. These thin, continuous slices are fairly identical as to grain and figure, and can matched in various ways to create interesting surface. The short story on bookmatched panels wood magazine. Veneer logs for sale butt logs for wood veneer ash. Bookmatching is the practice of matching two or more wood or stone surfaces, so that two adjoining surfaces mirror each other, giving the impression of an opened book as applied to wood, bookmatching is usually done with veneer produced in one of several ways, but can also be done with solid wood. Excellent resurface as veneer or to cover non cabinet grade wood.

During the roman empire, romans also used veneered work in mass quantities. Here are some of the most common veneer matching approaches. We produce veneer faces, wood veneer laminates, adhesives, and hardwood veneer panels in both domestic and exotic hardwoods. This period is named for the famous english cabinetmaker, thomas chippendale, who wrote a book of furniture designs, gentlemen and cabinetmakers director, published in 1754, 1755 and 1762.

Were also proud to offer some of the finest paperbacked and 2ply wood veneer available. Veneers of african ebony with inlays of ivory and other exotic materials were commonly used to decorate artifacts the pharaohs planned to take with them into the afterlife beginning with the earliest dynasties fragments of inlaid wood roughly 5,000 years old were found in king. The technique is used to beautify a variety of objects such as. Architectural panels, boat building and furniture, as well as musical instruments.

If you prefer the traditional approach, raw wood veneer can be applied with hot hide glue and a veneer hammer. We sell american hardwood and soft wood veneer to domestic and international markets, as well as purchase veneer from the international market for domestic use. The joewoodworker guide to veneer figure, methods, and options. Raw wood veneer this is the most common veneer for exotic wood species and figures. Architectural panels and millwork, cabinetry, furniture, and interior woodwork, as well as musical instruments electric guitar bodies in particular. Veneering actually starts at the beginnings of recorded human history. They provided civilization with a valuable and plentiful resource. The german word furnier veneer originated in the 16th century from the french. Veneer is matched by color but not by grain pattern. Acacia quarter cut wood veneer heartwood is golden brown, has straight to wavy grain and a smooth, fine texture common uses. Repeating patterns, book matches, diamond matches and.

Throughout the history of mankind, great forests blanketed many parts of the world. Jul 28, 2014 veneer is just thin wood so dont be afraid of it. Wood was a material easy to work with and shape, so artisans used it in many diverse ways. Book matching this method is similar to slip matching, except that every other veneer is flipped. Beds, stools, throne chairs, and boxes were the chief forms of furniture in ancient egypt. To create a bookmatch, you simply open two sequential leaves of veneer like a book to form a mirror image. Dec 21, 2016 this is my way to apply veneer, it is very easy and the result is awesome. Exhibits linear saw markings signs of scraped surfaces grain is burnished closed. Mar 01, 2008 in this comprehensive book, jonathan benson, a professional furniture builder and veneer expert, sets the record straight for todays woodworker and presents veneering for what it truly is. The discounts range from 10 to 50% and we occasionally do a super blowout of 80% for our newsletter subscribers. Veneer versus real wood in the furniture market home guides.

Napoli wood veneer office desks feature a unique, italianinspired design that will raise eyebrows. In concert with the sustainable forestry techniques used by the experts at mte wood, veneer wood is an environmentally responsible choice for many furniture makers. Veneers of african ebony with inlays of ivory and other exotic materials were commonly used to decorate artifacts the pharaohs planned to take with them into the afterlife beginning with the earliest dynasties fragments of inlaid wood roughly 5,000 years old were found in king semerkhets tomb. The thickness of the raw veneer has little bearing on the ultimate quality of the end product so long as showthrough and sandthrough is avoid ed. Veneer furniture is constructed by gluing thin layers of wood veneers together with the grain at right layers over a thick core. Veneer bookshelves often include special features such as builtin lighting and crown molding to up the style another notch. The veneers in this category have typically been in stock for too long and because of this there may be some splits or cracks at the ends of the sheets. Wood backer the veneer face is applied to a whole piece cross grain wood backer. This veneer really sticks and gave me a professional fit and finish.

This veneer has excellent gluing, staining, and finishing properties. In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood and sometimes bark, usually thinner than 3 mm 18 inch, that typically are glued onto core panels typically, wood, particle board or mediumdensity fiberboard to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. The famous english designer thomas chippendale, in the 18th century, used veneer to produce his exquisite furniture. The use of veneer wood means more of each harvested log can be turned into usable product. Contact the forestry experts at mte to get the best butt logs for your veneer wood. Real wood refers to furniture whose exterior surfaces are constructed of solid wood planks, with veneers used on the backs, shelves and drawer interiors. Veneer, extremely thin sheet of richcoloured wood such as mahogany, ebony, or rosewood or precious materials such as ivory or tortoiseshell cut in decorative patterns and applied to the surface area of a piece of furniture. History of veneer about veneer history of veneer veneer manufacturing methods veneer matching the use of veneer goes back nearly 4,000 years as early forms of it were found in the tombs of egyptian pharaohs. Because wood veneer is actually real wood and often has a beautiful wood grain, you can stain and varnish it.

No wonder the idea of cutting precious wood in thin sheets in order to cover. Wood veneer bookcases offer the classic look you want and the durability you need. A new furniture form of this period was the tilting tea table. Rotary cut veneer produced on a large machine where the solid log is rotated against a. In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood and sometimes bark, usually thinner than 3. Usually done with lower grades of veneer, the leaves may be of varying width, colors and grains. I love repairing old furniture the older the better. Grain the direction, size, arrangement and appearance of the fibers in.

The history of wood veneering originates in ancient egypt circa 3000 bc and continues into modern day woodworking. No wood is wasted except a bit on the top or a bit on the bottom. In the last 50 years or so veneer has gotten a bad rap in the furniture trade. This book gave cabinetmakers real direction and they soon eagerly. Through the centuries from ancient egypt, imperial rome, ancient persia, japan, etc, wealthy patrons employed veneer craftsmen to create beautiful works of art. Wood veneer wood veneers are a great way to extend your wood projects for a fraction of the cost of solid wood. Satisfaction is guaranteed with our 365 day return policy. This is particularly true when furniture is stored in contrasting hotcold temperature extremes and humiddry conditions. This veneer really sticks and gave me a professional fit. Today veneering techniques and equipment have been perfected to the point where veneer is an extremely reliable choice for producing natural wood surfaces for furniture and cabinets. Formwood industries is a complete veneer and veneer products supplier for both commercial and residential building needs. Veneers are supplied in high quality flitch form or the way it comes off the log in any. Although only a few important examples of actual furniture survive, stone carvings, fresco paintings, and models made as funerary offerings present rich documentary evidence. Dec 01, 2016 repairing veneer on a midcentury tabletop thomas johnson antique furniture restoration duration.

Wood veneer news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2012 learn how and when. Archeologists have found traces of laminated wood in the tombs of the egyptian pharaohs. Kimballs award winning furniture inspires productivity and collaboration with an emphasis on design and sustainability. Another advantage of veneer is sustainabilityfurniture made with wood veneer uses less wood than the. Jonathan benson is a professional furniture maker who specializes in contemporary curved pieces with extensive veneer figures. By the mid 1800s a veneer cutting lathe was patented, paving the way for the development of todays high speed lathes. It is doubtful if any real date for its beginnings can be established. This flexible desk series boasts an array of desk configurations, matching storage accessories and two elegant wood finishes. However, when deforestation occurred in the nile valley starting from the second dynasty, they began importing cedar, aleppo pine, boxwood, and oak from various parts of the middle east. Youll find more than 260,000 425,000 square feet of domestic and exotic veneer within our site and were offering these great veneers by the sheet and in small, affordable lots. Then draw a centerline along one edge of the piece.

That hardwood layer covers the lower quality wood base, such as cheaper. Furniture builders know that having the right building materials is equally as important. Wood veneer is produced by veneer manufacturers in a variety of industry standard thicknesses. Heres the truth about wood veneers architectural digest.

Veneer versus real wood in the furniture market home. Repairing veneer on a midcentury tabletop thomas johnson antique furniture restoration duration. Spanning the surprising histories of the log cabin and windsor chair, the deep truth about veneer, the role of wood in. Red alder flat cut wood veneer is light tan to pink and brown in color, darkening with age. Techniques and finishes of 19th century furniture home. While laminate is usually made of a synthetic material, veneer furniture features a thin layer of real hardwood. Due to unprecedented demand for certain products and worktravel restrictions imposed by various governmental agencies, delivery services may be delayed longer than estimated. Hand carving veneer 116th inch, often irregular thickness.

A graduate of the rhode island school of design, he has won numerous prestigious design awards and is the author of wood art today. Layering a thin slice of attractive veneer over wood of lesser quality offered a way to accomplish this objective. A cip catalogue record for this book is available from the british library. Carved, laminated wood framed formal pieces of furniture manufactured in the wellknown workshops in lower manhattan in the 19th century. A fast growing tree native to australia, typically reaching heights between 15.

Veneer is used to cover an existing material with a new surface. When a veneer is cut it is stacked in consecutive leaves in. The eyes or swirling grain in burls and the decayinduced lines in spalted wood make excellent choices. Case goods cabinets, dressers and cupboards featured. However, be careful if youre using an electric or belt sander, because often the veneer is so thin that aggressive sanding will wear though the veneer quickly. Our category of clearance and closeout veneers is updated frequently. I find repairing more challenging and satisfying than making new because someone else, or time and age, has set the parameters within which i have to work.

This is my way to apply veneer, it is very easy and the result is awesome. Book matched the veneer face is applied to a 10 mil paper backing. Information on wood veneer history, appearance and matching. We update this listing frequently and the discounts range from 10 to 50%. Mar 19, 2020 all the leaves from a flitch will have the same color and texture, and nearly identical grain patterns. Veneer logs for sale butt logs for wood veneer ash veneer. If the grain is straight, the joints will not be obvious. The construction method for veneer furniture is similar to laminate furniture, with the primary difference being the actual material used as the outer layer. A veneered panel made up of four consecutive veneers each aligned as in book matching but creating a panel consisting of a leaf of veneer at all four corners.

Thomas johnson antique furniture restoration 210,793 views 7. In this comprehensive book, jonathan benson, a professional furniture builder and veneer expert, sets the record straight for todays woodworker and presents veneering for what it truly is. I tried nonpsa veneer with contact cement on my cabinet job and failed after several tries. When a veneer is cut it is stacked in consecutive leaves in bundles or half bundles of 16 or 32 leaves. The depression was a lean financial time, and manufacturers had to make furniture appealing to consumers while keeping costs down. For those who dont know, wood veneer is defined as wood which is cut in a very thin sheet. To prevent splitting, it is important to avoid exposing solid wood furniture to strong sunlight or direct heat sources. Veneer texture, material board, wooden textures, got wood, log furniture, petrified. Nowadays most people think of wood veneers in one of two categories, thin laminates of wood found on cheap furniture, or intricate artistic veneer work found on custom made furniture. The english and french are reported to have worked wood on the general principle of plywood in the 17th and 18th centuries. Veneering is an ancient art, dating back to at least the ancient egyptians who used expensive and rare wood veneers over cheaper timbers to produce their furniture and sarcophagi. History of veneer wood veneer interior wall panels.

Usually slices of wood between 116 and 2 in thickness sliced through the cross or vertical section of a flitch any part of the log which is sliced into veneer. All the leaves from a flitch will have the same color and texture, and nearly identical grain patterns. Acacia quarter cut wood veneer heartwood is golden brown, has straight to wavy grain and a smooth, fine texture. Historically, veneers were cut by hand until about the 1820s where machines started to be used to cut the wood uniformly thin. Jan 15, 2018 this enables furniture to respond to environmental changes without damage. This creates a thick, solid veneer with a natural looking edge. Our category of clearance and closeout veneers can range from backer grade to highend veneer in any species. The key to creating an attentiongrabbing panel lies in careful stock selection. Alternating pieces of veneer are flipped over so they face each other as do the pages within a book. Sometimes this expansioncontraction will cause a split in a piece of solid wood furniture. From afzelia to zebrawood, theres something here for everyone.

Rotary cut veneer produced on a large machine where the solid log is rotated against a large stationary knife pencil sharpener fashion. Make a bookmatched veneer door panel popular woodworking. These office shelving units are ideal for displaying books and awrds in a professional manner. Veneer slices are joined in sequence without flipping the pattern. Wood veneer history the ancient origin of wood veneering. Although this veneer knife is a serious piece of kit look at what added value is created, for added value read potential profit. A fast growing tree native to australia, typically reaching heights between 1550 feet. Only way to go is with self adhesive back if you are resurfacing cabinets or covering soft wood. Look for wood with unusual grain, a knot, or color variation that will form an interesting pattern when mirrored. This enables furniture to respond to environmental changes without damage.