Technical Data | Veneers

The History of Veneer
| Introduction | Advantages and applications | Visual Range | Manufacture | Finishing |

In ancient times, the Egyptians developed tools for shaving veneer from logs shipped in from Lebanon, Syria and Phoenicia. One can well imagine the Greek seafaring invaders throwing spears at the Egyptian chariots of Rameses 6 only to have the spearheads of inferior metal stopped or deflected by the strength of the timber veneered tensioned side walls that surrounded the chariot driver. More recently, although largely unappreciated, veneer construction in furniture form appeared as early as the 16th. Century. During the 16th and 17th centuries, furniture and cabinet work regarded now as antique masterpieces were largely veneer construction. In the 14th century, intricately inlaid veneered panels were created by Italian craftsmen. 16th century Spain saw the advent of the inlaid furniture and cabinetwork. That period also saw the invention of the fretsaw in Germany and the production of ebony cabinets superbly decorated with arabesque marquetry. France under the Bourbon dynasty became the cultural centre of the world and French cabinetmakers produced lavish ebony veneered cabinets. In England, during the Renaissance, furniture was extravagantly decorated with veneers of walnut and ebony ornamented with marquetry. The 17th century was the Age of Walnut in England and the craft of decorative veneering came into its own in that land. Furniture of charming simplicity was veneered in matched leaves of walnut. Across the channel, the vintage years of Louis XV saw the introduction of the graceful l'antique style which utilised veneering to a high degree. A major advance occurred in the early 19th century, when machines for veneer peeling and slicing were patented in England. This meant that the veneering craft was finally freed from the limitations imposed by sawing. This was the Regency period, when much of the furniture produced was veneered from mahogany and rosewood. Later, with the rise of The Arts and Crafts Furniture Movement of the 1890s; veneers of oak, walnut, mahogany and satinwood came into prominence. In the first half of the 20th century, the manufacture of veneers developed all over the world. Veneered wall panels appeared in shops, restaurants, offices, banks, insurance companies and public building. Exotic veneers decorated luxury vehicles, railway carriages and ocean liners. Almost all domestic furniture was of veneered construction. In recent times, striking contemporary furniture designs have been produced with veneers. In addition, a resurgence of interest in period styles has seen superb examples of veneered reproduction furniture being manufactured. Offices and public buildings continue to utilise veneered wall panelling, flush venneered door panels and matching furniture. Advanced manufacturing techniques and growing public awareness of the virtues of real wood veneers together with the need to conserve energy and resources have made the craft of veneering more popular than ever.

| Introduction | History | Advantages and applications | Visual Range | Manufacture | Finishing |