Antique Collecting

ABOUT fifty years ago, when the subject of English furniture
first began to be studied and to be written about, it was divided
conveniently into four distinct types. One writer called his books
on the subject The Age of Oak, The Age of Walnut, The Age of
Mahogany and The Age of Satinwood. It is not really quite as
simple as that, for each of the so-called Ages overlaps the others
and it is quite impossible to lay down strict dates as to when any
one timber was introduced or when it finally, if ever, went out of
favour. However, these clear-cut divisions do make it easier to
deal with the subject, and it may be as well to keep to them;
bearing in mind that the dates given are no more than very rough
guides.