The many reasons to love antique 17th Century English furniture
Posted by Chris on 05/09/2025
In today’s modern era of furniture – constructed cheaply with plywood, chip board and MDF – there is something to be said for well-made antique furniture.
Antiques.co.uk’s founder, Iain Brunt, shares his thoughts on why he is a champion of furniture that was built to last: antique 17th century oak furniture.
In this article:
- What I love about 17th century oak furniture
- Why furniture makers loved oak
- A quick history of British woodland - and the rise of oak
- 17th century oak furniture: our top picks
- How to sell your antique oak furniture easily and quickly
“What I love about 17th century English oak furniture is its durability. It really was built to last and still firmly exists in today's 21st century society – 400 odd years later. I think it’s wonderful that a piece from that era might be used daily, and that it is most probably just as sturdy now as it was when it was made.
“When I look at a piece of 17th century furniture, my imagination is sparked. I find myself wondering, ‘what happened to it over those centuries?’ And often, ‘who sat at it, used it and ate at it?’
“That, for me, is the million dollar question.
“Each century that a piece of furniture is in existence, you might have 5 or 6 generations of a family using it: gathering around it, talking, relaxing, arguing…it’s incredible to think of the hundreds of years of conversations and human activity that this inanimate object has been party to.
"I once sold a set of chairs from the Hardy Amies collection, dress designer to the late Her Majesty The Queen.
"Upon purchasing the set, the new buyer remarked to me, “although the chairs are decorative, it is who sat in them that brings me great pleasure to think about.”
"I couldn’t agree more.
"Whilst I started off this article saying that I liked the durability of 17th century furniture, I think that it’s the untold stories and provenance of any piece of antique furniture that I find most intriguing. That alone adds to its character and charm. In contrast, I ask myself, 'what imagination are you sparking with a modern piece?'
"You might find yourself paying more for a 17th century oak coffer than a modern-day blanket box made from pine or MDF, but the former really will last a lifetime (and will probably outlive you and your immediate descendants) – whilst the latter is so much more liable to break, or be thrown away.
"And what’s really interesting for me is the psychology behind investing in antique pieces. Because once you’ve paid for your antique, you value it so much more than the modern alternative. It’s much more likely that you’ll want to treasure it, pass it down to younger generations, and give it more prominence in your household."
Above: Your 17th century furniture could have been a part of a scene like this: Crewe Hall dining room (image: Harper's New Monthly Magazine, December 1877, Public Domain)
Why 17th century antique furniture makers loved oak
Throughout history, certain materials have captured the imagination of craftsmen and furniture makers. One such material is oak, which was plentiful across most of the known world in the 17th century. It was then, and still is now, known for its strength, durability, and timeless beauty – that’s why oak has played such a prominent role in furniture design.
Oak, with its rich, warm hues and distinct grain patterns, has been highly valued for centuries. During the 17th and 18th centuries, oak was the primary choice for furniture making in Europe and North America. Its inherent strength and resilience made it an ideal material for crafting sturdy, long-lasting pieces. Oak furniture could withstand the test of time, remaining functional and aesthetically pleasing for generations.
Its natural grain patterns and distinctive texture lend themselves to creating pieces that exude warmth and charm. The colours found in oak furniture are as diverse as the seasons, ranging from light honey hues to deep amber tones.
Over time, oak develops a beautiful patina: a soft sheen that emerges as the wood interacts with its environment. This patina is the result of years of use, handling and natural oxidation, which enhances the woods inherent beauty and character.
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Above: The Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire is rumoured to be Britain's oldest oak tree at over 1,000 years old (image: Robin Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0)
A quick history of Britain’s woodlands – and the rise of oak
Oak in particular has a long history in Britain – over many centuries, it became the nation’s go-to building and furniture crafting material.
From around 8200 BC, trees and plants re-colonised Britain from Europe in waves of different species. Birch was the first pioneer, followed by pine and then hazel, elm, oak and alder. Woodland spread over most of the land. It is not certain exactly how this ‘wildwood’ covered Britain – it may have been one huge, dense forest that covered the entire area.
Woodland cover was reduced to about half of the land area of England during the Bronze Age, in around 2000 BC. The Romans then brought greater infrastructure to Britain, and agriculture greatly expanded. Woodland cover was reduced and became much more managed to supply the wood and timber that supported the Roman settlements and industries.
By the eighth century, woodland covered about a quarter of England.
The Domesday Book records wood-pasture and woodland covering about 15% of England. However, the following two and a half centuries saw an expanding population and further clearance of woodland, halving woodland cover to about 7%. The remaining woodland was managed more intensively, and timber began to be imported. This was abruptly halted by the Black Death, in 1349, which dramatically reduced the population and released the pressure on woodlands.
In the Middle Ages, 1349 – 1500 AD, Britain’s woodland continued to be used and managed, but the human population stayed low. Timber was increasingly used in building and industries requiring fuel (e.g. iron and brick) once again expanded.
Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s, many woods taken by the Crown fell into neglect. Deer-parks were revived. Short periods of intensive agriculture at various times throughout this period saw some woods grubbed out (cleared with their roots fully removed); however, small patches of new woodland also appeared. Wood became much more valuable during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with timber rising in price. Colder winters and higher heating standards increased the demand for fuel, increasing the price of underwood by about 75% in the mid-sixteenth century, when its price was held due to competition from coal. An increase in shipping from the end of the seventeenth century demanded good quality timber, particularly oak. At the same time, the rise in the leather-tanning trade put high demand on oak bark.
By the early-eighteenth century scarcity of supply, particularly in Ireland, and the consequent expense of this material prohibited large-scale use in all but the most prestigious building projects. In England, oak remained relatively plentiful in the south west of the country and local supplies from estate copses were utilised for many building schemes.
Above: Oak refectory table circa 1700, £7,500
17th century antique oak furniture: our top picks
1. Coffers
Pictured: 17th century carved oak coffer, £895
> Explore antique coffers on Antiques.co.uk
2. Dressers
Pictured: Oak English dresser base mid to late 17th century, £4,950
> Explore antique dressers on Antiques.co.uk
3. Chests of drawers
Pictured: 17th Century Oak Geometric Chest of Drawers (c.1670), £2,850
> Explore antique chests of drawers on Antiques.co.uk
4. Tables
Pictured: 17th Century Oak Refectory Table (c.1680), £2,850
> Explore antique oak tables on Antiques.co.uk
5. Cupboards & cabinets
Pictured: Mid 17th Century Oak Two Tier Court Cupboard, £3,400
> Explore antique cupboards on Antiques.co.uk
6. Settles
Pictured: Rare Oak Box Settle (c.1720), £2,600
> Explore antique cupboards on Antiques.co.uk
7. Chairs
Pictured: Two late 17th Century Oak Chairs, £1,750
> Explore antique oak chairs on Antiques.co.uk
Explore more 17th century oak furniture
We have an extensive selection of antique oak furniture pieces listed for you to explore on Antiques.co.uk.
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