Oak Jewelry Armoire

From the late 1800s to the 1920s, oak furniture was the crème de la crème as far as home décor was concerned. Oak's rich tones, durability, and practicality appealed to the working class of America. Oak is so durable, in fact, that early 16th and 17th European pieces can be seen today. Their longevity is a testament to oak's enduring contribution to household furnishings.

Although an oak jewelry armoire can make any bland room into something unforgettable, the oak population is experiencing an environmental crisis. Oaks can live longer than 200 years, and when threatened by their enemies; fungi, beetles, or bad weather- oaks usually take several weeks to die. However, in recent years, oaks have been experiencing "sudden death" whereby they die within a week from unexplained causes. Sudden death combined with habitat destruction, pollution, and shortage of water (oaks require 50 gallons per day), oak endangerment is approaching catastrophic proportions. If you must have an oak jewelry armoire, please buy an antique.

The different types of Oak-

European Oak-This coarse, straight-grained wood is also known as French or English Oak, and is often pale brown in color.

Red Oak- Commonly called the American Red Oak, this hard wood can be found in a pink-red tone; it is also straight-grained, with a coarse texture.

White Oak- This hard wood is straight-grained with medium-coarse texture; also known as the American White Oak, it is similar to European oak in appearance, but varies more in color.

The White Oak is preferred in furniture making because not only is it moisture-resistant, the color is more aesthetically pleasing. It is durable and strong, and accepts finishes beautifully.