Country Craft Furniture in Different Cultures

Country craft furniture is a real expression of art, from the authentic furniture items that appeared in Oriental countries since B.C., till the peasants' work of today. Country craft furniture follows the traditions of much cultural value, belonging to nations from different spaces and times.

Country craft furniture was influenced by different historical situations: the handcrafters situated near the borders made ornamented furniture during peace times, but this craft was forgotten during the wars or unsafe times, when art was left on a backside place. The country furniture was in tight relation with the Art movements, as it ranged form reactions against ornaments to highly creative art.

The country craft furniture works with both new and re-claimed timber, pine and oak, which can give both the rough aspect and the elegant touch of the English and French country furniture craft, characterized by heaviness and classic, but massive forms. The Mexican country craft furniture is the most unfinished looking one and the French is delicate, yet they are both called country style. This is because of Europe's high aristocracy that cultivated the taste for fine and finished touches. 

While the Mexican craft uses the barn and teaks more, the Europeans use mostly fine pine. The Mexicans have a more unfinished look because of the trends of the country: mostly agricultural and rural, where peasants are representative. In Europe, the Art and Craft movement of the Art Nouveau and the Baroque influences stilled the furniture craft, even the country one and transformed it into a delicate and feminine form of expression. The western American uses pine, too, but to give the furniture a rough aspect with light texture.

The other cultures, like the Asian or the Indian ones, are focused on rare and exotic trees: bamboo and wicker rattan; that is why the country craft furniture is at high price in these places. The northern cultures, found in the Scandinavian countries promote delicate and light country furniture, with Eclectic and romantic influences, combining the old and the new with exotic elements.

Country craft furniture depends not only from one continent to another or from country to country. But within the same nation, there are regions with different traditions and cultural backgrounds that can easily be found in all artistic aspects of life, such as the furniture. Also, the country craft furniture very much depends on the possibility of growing certain trees in the specific area.