A History of Pine
With around 120 different varieties of pine tree spread over most of the northern hemisphere it is perhaps unsurprising that pine has been utilized by man, for many different reasons, since the dawn of time. Before you turn your nose up at this most prolific of woods it is worth considering what an asset and long standing friend the pine tree has been to mankind.
The history of pine is a long one. Before the term “furniture”, or even “pine” for that matter, hand been coined stone age man was making use of this tree to fuel their fires and and construct their primitive weaponry. OK, perhaps not the most important fact that will spring to mind when considering pine furniture! What is a little more interesting is that pine has been the most fundamental wood used since man started building. Larch wood as it was known centuries ago is the material that our ancestors built their cities with.
Today pine is still one of the most commonly used building materials and is, commercially, the most important source of timber. These trees grow quickly and can be planted close to one another making plantations very profitable, and not just for construction timber. Pine is used all around your home for windows and paneling, furniture of course, and roofs and flooring, but it is also the main staple of the paper industry.
Pine wood is also used in the many different types of plywood or ** wood and this is where they buyer of pine furniture must be careful. Ply wood or chip board are pieces of board constructed by the gluing together of thin sheets of soft wood, or sawdust, like pine. A lot of cheap furniture is made out of this stuff with a thin veneer or *** over the top. So furniture made from this material may be considered to be made of pine but they certainly aren’t made of solid pine and should be avoided if you can afford it.
Personally, I quite like untreated or unfinished pine bookcases, as I can really see the quality of the wood and then stain it according to my interior design needs. Failing that, I always keep my eyes open for antique pine bookcases or other furniture. There’s something about weathered pine which is quite beautiful, whereas brand new pine furniture can look a little garish.
Filed Under: About Pine
