AUSTRALIA, Feb 08 — There is nothing like the polished sheen on antique wood, lovingly polished with Bee’s wax for the past hundred, or even, the past two hundred years. Over this long period of time a rich patina is produced, the fine sheen of polished wood. This patina can never be successfully reproduced and is the result of elbow grease, wax and time!
Treen is a generic name for the small to medium, functional handmade objects made of wood. Antique pieces, such as table lamps, can do a lot for a modern interior, adding a much warmer element when integrated into a décor
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here is nothing like the polished sheen on antique wood, lovingly polished with Bee’s wax for the past hundred, or even, the past two hundred years. Over this long period of time a rich patina is produced, the fine sheen of polished wood. This patina can never be successfully reproduced and is the result of elbow grease, wax and time!
Treen is a generic name for the small to medium, functional handmade objects made of wood. Hence treen is distinct from furniture, chairs, tables etc. The very word is antique! and is, in fact, a Middle English word from the 13th century, when treen meant tree, or wood.
The word is still in common use to describe small objects made in hand turned wood. Wood, of course, being the major raw material for common domestic objects with turning and carving being the key skills.
Some rare examples of treen exist from the 15th century with most antique pieces being made in the 19th century. These were made prior to the introduction of cheap metal wares and finally, plastics. As the 19th century progressed, the “old fashioned” treen pieces were discarded for the new wares.
Flame, or ’crotch-cut’ mahogany is cut at the crotch where a limb protruded from the trunk of the tree, producing a flame-like figuring, It is a cutting technique also used with other fine hardwoods, including walnut, and is extremely expensive, given the small number of major limbs on any trunk.
It is a hallmark of quality in furniture construction and is highly-prized for its inherent beauty. Due to logging over the past 100 years, Flame Mahogany is now considered a rare and exotic wood.
Ilustrated is a Flame Mahogany lamp, skillfully turned from a single section of Mahogany. The lamp with a flared base and the wood beautifully figured.
The lamp fitted with a custom made, gold plated bronze cap. The lamp in original condition - cleaned and waxed only. The lamp with a highly polished surface, the end result of a soft cloth and wax for the past 100 years. The lamp is, of course highly functional, with a clean undecorated form, greatly admired by designers and collectors.
It is well worth recalling that antique pieces were made by master craftsmen and that in today’s world, hand crafted products like these have virtually disappeared. Antique pieces not only reflect quality workmanship from an earlier time, but will increase in value, while a contemporary piece will depreciate every year.
I have found that it is men who particularly appreciate the simple lines of polished wood. Traditional attitudes have generally placed interior design in the feminine compartment, but attitudes change and men are now widely accepted as partners in sharing an interest in interior decoration.
From a purely male perspective, men will see table lamps as a subject that allows for creative expression. Lamps for the den, for the office, for a library, or simply to add to the pleasure derived from their living space.
There is a real pleasure in owning something that is unique and beautiful while remaining a useful asset to a family. Antique pieces, such as table lamps, can do a lot for a modern interior, adding a much warmer element when integrated into a décor. It is quite often a surprise to discover just how “at home” an antique piece can look in a modern interior.
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