Selecting Handcrafted Furniture

A piece of handcrafted furniture is at once a practical and aesthetic purchase. It graces your home, reflects who you are, and performs a specific function in your home. A piece of fine furniture is a part of your family’s material legacy and, as such, should live beautifully today, tomorrow, and for succeeding generations.

First and foremost, remember that a piece of handcrafted furniture has a life of its own; it imparts a special feeling, character, and personality through its design and appearance. “Design is the heart, humanity, and spirit of the piece,” says furniture craftsman Bruce Beeken of Beeken/Parsons Fine Furniture of Shelburne, Vermont. It is only after your heart has been captured by the design and lines of a piece that you will ask questions that will confirm your selection and enhance your satisfaction.

The Craftsman and the Craft

You’ll want to know who made the piece, where they lived, and when they worked. “Different people will have a different amount of interest in this aspect,” Beeken says, but quite often it strikes to the heart of why people buy handcrafted furniture. People often buy native, handcrafted pieces because they love a place, are invested in that place, remember a treasured visit, or cherish a specific moment in their lives. To that end, you will want to know who the craftsman is, where the wood comes from, and which traditions inform his or her craft.

You should definitely interview craftsmen, learn about their background in the business, and find out where they did their training. Quite often, this information can tell you more about how the piece is constructed than what meets the eye.

The construction of the handcrafted item is critical. A fine craftsman, well trained, with a commitment to the furniture, the art, and the tradition, will almost certainly guarantee a high level of craftsmanship. Ask about their guarantees and how an item will be repaired should it fail in any way.

Check that the joinery is superior and will maintain the piece throughout your lifetime and into successive generations. Beeken/Parsons specifies mortise and tenon joints that allow between .001 and .002 of an inch between the faces of the joint. This determines how the wood fibers fuse together to maintain the integrity of the joint. Check also to see if any glue has squeezed out of a joint and whether there are gaps or ragged edges at the joints. These are indicators that the piece may not endure as it was intended.