Our overriding philosophy is that whenever we make a piece of furniture it is made with the care and attention to detail that we would put into a piece that was going into our own homes. Whenever we buy in a particular piece we assure ourselves that it reaches the same standards as a piece that we would make ourselves.
Ancient or Modern?
We make all our furniture using techniques that are little different from those used by craftsmen over the centuries. That doesn’t mean that we aren’t keeping up with modern technology – our glues, for example, are today’s glues, giving stronger longer lasting joints.
Our Wood
All our wood is sourced from ecologically friendly forests, carefully managed to ensure that they will last for centuries to come. Most of the oak we use, for example, is over 150 years old and has been carefully dried to exactly the right level to ensure that it will make beautiful furniture that will last.
The Story of Oak
The Oak Tree has long been considered one of the most venerable trees of the world. It grows worldwide and there are over 300 different varieties of this magnificent species. Its wood has five times the breaking strength of pine. The oak has always been seen as the national tree of England. Its great height, age and strength make it the “King of the English Forest”, and a symbol of endurance. The oak’s sturdy timbers have been used to build the frames of houses, barns and halls, and the ships of Francis Drake and Horatio Nelson. The words “Hearts of Oak” are used in the ceremonial march of the Royal Navy.
Oak trees on average take between 100 and 120 years to reach maturity, but the English Oak can take up to 300 years. One of the oldest oaks known stands in Windsor Great Park. This memorable tree has stood for over 800 years and seen over 35 monarchs come and go during its life. Another notable oak tree is the one that provided a hiding place for King Charles II after the battle of Worcester in 1651. The major oak in Sherwood Forest measures 64 feet round.
To give you an idea of the age of the oak that we use, one of our suppliers has found musket balls embedded in the trees, We have a number of these musket balls which date back to the Civil War days, found in the village of Guestwick were Oliver Cromwell was known to stay.
Mature oak has been the wood of choice for furniture for centuries and mention of it dates back to biblical times. The bible refers to the oak over 20 times and the tree was sacred to both the Druids and the Anglo-Saxons.
At Rushworths we are proud that we continue the traditions used by generations of craftsmen to produce beautiful furniture from this magnificent tree.
Craftsmen’s Marks
For centuries makers of all kinds of fine pieces have been proud of their creations, and wanted their patrons to recognise their skills. They were also anxious to protect their name and thus preserve their reputations. In some industries this marking has become a recognised standard, as with the hallmarking of precious metals, and with names such as Carl Fabergé recognised worldwide.
As early as the 1500s the importance of the craftsman’s mark has been recognised worldwide and afforded protection by acts of parliament. Some of these marks have evolved into many of today’s trademarks.
At Rushworths every piece of furniture made in our workshops carries the mark of the craftsman who created it.
Please download an example of our Craftsman’s Mark here.
Certificate Of Authenticity
Here at Rushworths we are proud of every piece of furniture that we create, be it one of our standard range or a piece that we have specifically produced to meet a customer’s personal requirements. Many hours of skilled work go into each piece and we take every care that it is built of the finest materials available to us and to the highest standard.
Each piece is the work of one craftsman and will carry his unique mark, and this, together with a unique serial number will appear discreetly somewhere on the item.
When any piece leaves our workshop it will be accompanied by its own numbered Certificate of Authenticity that clearly identifies the piece and confirms that it is indeed a true Rushworths item.
Please download an example of one of our certificates here.
Our Fittings
Customers are welcome to chose the fittings for their own pieces from a large range which we have available. Alternatively our team are happy to make appropriate recommendations.
All our hinges and handles are solid brass, made in Yorkshire, which compliment our furniture. Both traditional and modern fittings are available to meet customers’ needs.