Ontario

The term "rustic furniture" describes most of the antiques from Ontario, installed in private homes or museums. The settlement began after the WAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE intensifies XIX^th century. During these early years, the hardships of pioneer life are that most families have neither the time nor the means to take an interest in period furniture, much less get them.

Chair of English style

A stylish chair manufactured in Upper Canada. The frame is birch and pine seat (courtesy of the Canadian Museum of Civilization).

Rustic furniture Ontario can be divided into three categories: copies of period furniture of English and American furniture forms and decorations from France, Germany and other European countries, and solid furniture and utilities used to town and countryside and in smaller parts of urban residences.

All styles (Georgian, Victorian and Empire) are shown alone or in combination, more or less successful. The yellow birch and maple veined Ontario well replace the imported mahogany and lemon. Sometimes used in dyeing and painting to simulate woods and precious veneers or inlays and carvings, when the skill or tools are not sufficient to achieve such improvements. In the early years, cabinetmakers prefer hardware (hinges, handles) readily available to those who match the style of furniture. Sometimes applied decorative motifs such as the six-pointed star German and the diamond to the French to rustic furniture and shape of English styles.

It takes relatively few tools to make furniture, utilities; so that most carpenters, cabinet makers and assemblers could they play them. Forms of dual-use, compact, are carried out: including a chair with the backrest can be lowered to serve as a table top and bench seat which folds out to serve as beds.

The rustic chairs are divided into three groups: the chairs with back to tie the Windsor chairs and fancy chairs. Chairs with back to tie with four turned legs, the rear legs extending in several posts linked by ties to form the file. A variation in a folder two cross-drilled several vertical bars. Strips of ash or oak bark are woven seat.

The Windsor chair, inspired by the English, is built like a stool with a backrest attached to the seat. These chairs are named according to their style or form of their case: Sheraton, Horseshoe, arrowhead, or low-back captain, a comb, spindle to spindle or small chicken coop, and was. Chairs with backs to cross and Windsor chairs are straight-backed chairs, armchairs and rocking chairs, and most are painted.

Fancy chairs are chairs with straight back, seat and legs are inspired, at least in part, Georgian and Victorian styles. The decorative wood comprising units is often used, based in cane or rush. The first workshops Furniture Ontario also produce quantities of Windsor chairs and fantasy.

Bedsteads heavy four twisted columns and box spring (and with a trundle bed) are replaced by cattail beds, lower, lighter, with ties. Berths Laborers, tipped with cattails, become rustic sofas as we add full folders or cattails. Tables and occasional tables of all sizes for various purposes have trays that flip, rotate or come loose and the panels can be lowered or removed from.

The desk rustic schoolmaster inclined to cover can be fixed or not a framework for long or short legs, and surmounted by a small cupboard with a loft. Secretaries, whose flip-shelf serves as a writing surface, are supported by a table or sideboard.

The rustic cupboards, containing one or two rooms and with or without glass doors or solid, some with a tablet placed between the upper part and lower part, can be integrated in a corner or wall, or be self-supporting. Sizes and shapes, they serve pantry of china or washing hands. Cabinets and linen closets are fixed or removable, allowing them to move. Most buffets are painted or stained dark. Coffers to cover, the first and finest are made of six pieces of wood joined at dovetails, are numerous and sometimes built on top of the first convenient.