Category:Furniture

Furniture of the period was made of wood, was of simple design and generally limited to tables, benches, and stools. Period smithed ironwork may be used to reinforce and/or join furniture. Some other specific furniture such as backed chairs are also permitted but in very limited quantities and subject to special rules.

Tent frame and furniture material will in almost all circumstances be wood and care must be taken to ensure that only species of hardwoods or softwoods found in the British Isles c.800-1100 are used. It is good practice to oil all woodwork once a year to prevent the inevitable constant wetting and drying cycle cracking the timber. This is especially relevant where woodwork is stored at home in a well heated house.

Further information can be found in the Society Village Guide.

Design and construction of furniture

Considering that we all have to travel to shows most furniture will be of a transportable, generally demountable or flat pack type. All constructional joints which are left exposed once furniture is erected should be authentic or at least acceptable under Authenticity rules. Generally mortice and tenon joints are fully acceptable for demountable furniture.

Where non demountable joints need securing exposed screw and/or bolt heads are not permitted. Large nails were not used in the same way that we now use modern nails and should therefore be used sparingly and in locations where they could be clasped / used as rivets with back plates. If appropriate joints should be ‘tree-nailed’ using wooden pegs glued in place. Small round headed nails can be used to secure leather to wood ; carpet tacks are a good compromise. Metalwork must not be galvanised ; where possible metalwork should be ‘smithed’ and must not have any machining marks.