The New Student's Reference Work/Furniture-Manufacture

Furniture-Manufacture. This industry at the present day flourishes more in America than elsewhere. There is, however, no special form or style of furniture recognised as more correct than another. Steam was first applied to the making of furniture in 1815. Several historic styles are still followed in furnituremaking, including the light Chippendale, the heavy mahogany, the elaborate rococo, the severe Gothic and the Spanish-mission style. By 1850 most ordinary furniture was machine-made, for scrolls and ornaments could be readily and cheaply wrought into it by the machines. The best cabinets, however, continued to be made by hand. The great centers of the furniture-industry in the United States are New York, Chicago and Grand Rapids, Mich.; but six other cities in the United States produce furniture to the value of over $2,000,000 yearly. In respect of design America is responsible for many useful contrivances in the manufacture of furniture, including principally folding-beds and rocking-chairs. But lovers of artistic furniture complain that the use of machinery has led to the sacrifice of good taste to economy of production. The recent extension of the teaching of woodwork in American schools is likely to elevate the standard of taste and workmanship in the furniture-manufacture.