In 1607, when Captain John Smith (1580-1631) first set foot on Virginia’s shores, he was struck by the abundant natural resources of the new continent, particularly the trees. Describing them to potential colonists in England and continental Europe, Smith noted that: “...all the Country is overgrowne with trees…many of their Okes are so tall and straight…Elme, some black walnut tree, and some Ash…Of walnuts there is 2 or 3 kindes: there is a kind of wood we called Cypress, because both the wood, the fruit, and leafe did most resemble it.” In a few years the newly arrived settlers began to convert this raw material into objects for everyday use – chairs and stools for sitting, tables for eating, chests and cupboards for storage. Some were plain, others fancy, but in either case these handmade artifacts reflected the lives of the early settlers.

For over forty years, MESDA has collected many of the finest examples of southern-made furniture – objects that demonstrate how the early South evolved, inform us about the diverse peoples who came here, and illuminate the artisans who were integral to the process. Whether they were English, Scottish, Irish, German, African, or French, Southern cabinetmakers utilized their materials at hand, both native and imported, to create furniture that speaks to us about their heterogeneous backgrounds and the multifaceted aspects of their everyday lives. These craftsmen contributed to the dynamic amalgamation of art, culture, and history that forms the basis for MESDA’s ongoing study of the early South.

Adapted from “Many Hands, Many Voices: Southern Furniture in the MESDA Collection” in The Magazine Antiques (1/2007) article by Robert A. Leath, Vice President of Collections and Research and Chief Curator, Old Salem Museums & Gardens.