A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTHWESTERN FURNITURE

The look and style of  what is today called "Southwestern" is, in reality, a style that was developed in New Mexico almost four hundred years ago.  It began as a blend of Hispanic and Native American influences shaped by available natural resources.  New Mexico was a remote outpost of the Spanish Empire for nearly two hundred and fifty years and, as such, was very difficult to re-supply. 
 
The end result was that in the passage of time,  furniture, originally imported from Spain, broke, wore out and had to be replaced.  Native carpenters repaired and replaced these pieces, primarily for Churches, with rough adaptations made of ponderosa pine. The Native population took this European style, and added even more ornate religion inspired carvings, hammered tin and  then added touches of various colorful paints.   Additionally, there was a Moorish influence, from the Spanish, with the use of adobe and iron scrollwork; add to that the influence of the local Native  American Tribes ( Navajo, Hopi. Zuni,  Mimbre)  who did all the work. This is now the foundation upon what is now called "Southwestern" began; from basic layout and design to the finishing touches of carvings and color.  This background shows where this particular form of craftsmanship and woodworking came into being; one can see the the origins of what is now called "Southwestern".

This remained the case until the early nineteenth century when New Mexico became part of the United States. New Mexican furniture became influenced by Mission, Craftsman, Colonial and Empire styles which were popular at the time and many new designs and pieces of furniture were created for home use.  Add to this background, some rough log work and leather hides and we are now in the 20th Century.

The advent of the railroad in 1920 drew many visitors to Santa Fe and Taos which, then, as now, were the artistic and cultural centers of New Mexico and created a new market for New Mexican style furniture. The "Arts and Crafts  style of the Southwest" which continues to this day, is now  simply called "Southwestern";  a style is easily recognized by the design, construction and colors of the various pieces.
       

E-Mail:  jdupret@jd-woodworks.com