Back to Black Furniture

Our beautiful range of black French style reproduction furniture handcarved and finished to the highest standard. Whether the Chairs are upholstered in black velvet or black linen, they will add glamour to your interiors.

Black furniture has been popular in various forms throughout the centuries to the current day.From the start of the 11th century, Europeans had been fascinated by rare and exotic objects from China and Japan. The fine silks, porcelain and lacquer ware imported by the East India company created a demand for these designs. Oriental lacquer is derived form the sap of a tree, which is native to China and Japan. There is evidence of lacquer being used as far back as neolithic times.

Lacquer is however very fragile and the cost of these imports encouraged European craftsmen to create imitations of the originals and furniture makers recreated the lacquered style by japanning rather than being decorated with actual lacquer. The principle colours for the japanned products were usually black and occasionally red yellow green and brown. Layers of black varnish could recreate the striking effect of genuine Asian lacquer.

Lacquer ware was much sort after in Europe during the early 17th and 18th centuries. By the end of the 18th century the furniture was being produced using varnish to achieve the dark wood effect. Towards the end of the 19th century furniture was being made from softwood, painted black and then varnished to achieve similar effects but in a much more simple style.