About Rustic
Rustic furniture is made from natural materials that embody the beauty, ruggedness and elegance of the outdoors.
A rustic settee made with naturally shaped yellow birch branches and ash splint weave.
This, believe it or not, is a chair. It is made entirely of moose antlers. While not an everyday piece of furniture, it does fit the rustic ideal of being direct from nature.
A BRIEF HISTORY
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, that were frequented by affluent urbanites known as “rusticators.”
19th century rusticators relaxing at a lakeside resort
Rusticators were seeking the tonic of wilderness in remote areas … along with comfortable lodgings and luxurious meals at the end of the day.
Other areas where rustic style became popular include the lakes regions of the Northeast, upper Midwest, and Canada; the southern Appalachians; and western mountain states.
Although the term "Adirondack" is often used interchangeably with “rustic” to describe this style of furniture, it is somewhat of a misnomer given the variety of regions where it was made.
TYPES OF RUSTIC FURNITURE
Antique rustic furniture can be sorted into two broad categories: unique pieces designed and made by individual craftsmen, and manufactured pieces made in standard styles by commercial companies.
Unique Rustic Furniture
During the rusticator heyday of the late-19th to early-20th century, skilled local woodworkers elevated furniture for rustic lodgings from merely functional, pioneer-style pieces to more decorative forms that appealed to their genteel clientele.
Often these men were caretakers at remote resorts or private lodges where they found clever, artistic uses for all parts of the native trees: fine twigs, larger branches, trunks, root masses, root burls, bark, cones and seeds.
Unique rustic furniture accents the sculptural beauty, contrasting textures, varied colors and whimsical shapes of materials found in nature.
The best examples of unique rustic furniture and accessories incorporate sophistication in design and construction, and were made by craftsmen who had both the eye and the skill to create beautiful, functional furniture and accessories from non-standardized woodworking stock.
As the popularity of rustic furniture spread, craftsmen traveled to rural resort areas to peddle their wares to vacationers who wanted to bring home some rustic style for their porches, houses and gardens.
A Passamaquoddy rustic furniture maker
Makers of unique rustic furniture rarely signed their work, so the creators of most of the pieces that survive today remain anonymous.
However, attributions can sometimes be made by comparing designs, materials, and construction techniques with pieces that have been documented in photos, written or oral histories, primary documents, and occasionally by comparison to one signed piece.
Ernest Stowe and Lee Fountain from the Adirondacks, Thomas Molesworth from Wyoming, and Reverend Ben Davis from North Carolina are some of the better-known rustic furniture makers who were active during the first half of the 20th century.
Yellow birch root base table made by Lee Fountain, circa 1920
Rustic console made by Rev. Ben Davis, circa 1930
Sideboard with yellow birch trim and birch bark cladding made by Ernest Stowe, circa 1905
Birch bark paneled wood box made by Orion Savage, circa 1910
Commercial Rustic Furniture
Factory production of rustic furniture emerged in the early 1900s in response to the growing popularity of unique rustic furniture. The most well-known manufactured rustic furniture was made from hickory poles in standard styles by a half-dozen companies in Indiana where hickory saplings were plentiful.
Sturdy hickory furniture was produced by these companies in all sorts of functional forms—seating, tables, beds, dressers, cupboards, lamps—that are still popular for everyday use in rustic homes.
This classic matching arm chair and rocker set was made by Old Hickory Furniture Company of Martinsville, Indiana in the 1930s.
A spindled hickory pole bed with woven hickory bark panels made by Rustic Hickory Furniture Company of LaPorte, Indiana in the 1920s.
Vintage hickory furniture is sought after today for everyday use in rustic homes—both for its classic good looks and its durability.
Manufacturers such as Old Hickory Furniture Company and Rustic Hickory Furniture Company printed yearly catalogs from the early through the mid-1900s, which are valuable resources for identifying the maker and date of particular pieces.
Cover of an original 1930’s catalog from Rustic Hickory Furniture Company of LaPorte, Indiana.
Many of the hickory furniture companies also branded their name onto most, but not all of the furniture they produced.
Old Hickory brand on the leg of a 1937 hoop-arm chair.
From the early to the mid-1900s, hickory companies also created rustic versions of furniture styles that were currently in vogue.
For example, the circa 1910 Old Hickory Morris chair (below left) is a rustic interpretation of a Mission/Arts & Crafts design that was popular at the time, while the circa 1945 chairs (below right) have a mid-century modern aesthetic.
Early 20th century Morris chair with a hickory pole frame and woven rattan cane seat and back, made by Old Hickory Furniture Company of Martinsville, Indiana.
The design of these Old Hickory chairs is attributed to Russel Wright who worked briefly for the company as a furniture designer during mid-1940s. During WWII it was difficult for Old Hickory to import rattan cane from Asia, so these rare chairs have nylon webbing seats and backs.
FROM YESTERDAY’S MAKERS TO TODAY’S HOMES
Despite variations in materials, designs and makers, the unifying feature of antique rustic furniture is that it was made to satisfy people’s desire to live with touches of nature indoors.
Old things are the new thing.
People who appreciate the roots of rustic furniture—literally and figuratively—continue the tradition by gracing their own homes with the natural appeal of furniture that was created during the original eras of rustic design.
Here are two good references for more background on unique and manufactured rustic furniture:
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)