Rustic vs Primitive

Rustic and primitive. Two common terms in furniture. The easiest way to really break it down is to think of a Venn Diagram. Rustic is one circle, Primitive the other.

Mead Collection

Rustic is an interpretation of the American experience. It's quaint and whimsical. References back to southwestern styles, old English styles, mountain styles. Log beds, cow hides, bear fur, log seats, benches. Those pieces that were purpose built.
  
                                                                ADrauglis


Primitive is where the material itself dictates the form and is not enhanced extensively by hands. It is how you present it that creates the piece. It is almost like a piece of art, a sculpture. And that is its function, although it can also be a bench, per se. The original form remains but it blends into the piece.

A builder can get away with a lot of the sins of the original piece of wood, while utilizing more of the wood.



                             tampastreetmarket
                                                JLWoodTurning
Both really demonstrate good technique and craftsmanship, especially when the purpose and functionality of the piece of furniture comes together seamlessly.
A gentle touch to maintain the look. Primitive has an old, simple look and utilizes early techniques like butterfly keys and carving. So do rustic.     

 

Both styles are an evolution of furniture, just as Queen Anne, Duncan Phyfe, Mission, Stickley, Louis XIV and XV. They are all built according to a line. A good piece has a horizontal plane in space.                                              

                        LAKEWAYCANDLES

Queen Anne has the cabriolet legs and ball & claw feet. Yet, everyone interprets these various styles when they are creating their own piece.


It is a modern extension of the vanity of furniture. There really are no limits; it just needs to be solid.
Like music.                                                          
                                                                                                                       GalahadDumfries

But it is a challenge to figure how to create a nice smooth horizontal plane. A plane attached to a piece of furniture that is not machine cookie cut. They become heirlooms then.

Well, here we go

Be sure to stop by and see what it is all about...
brandMOJO Interiors

A good place to start

Stools.

We sold a cart to a client many months ago who asked us to keep an eye out for this stool she wanted to match. It was a Hallowell. She sent us a photo. We had seen them, like one has seen a yacht, but may not know much about them.

We were out and about inquiring about industrial pieces and such that people have stacked in some warehouse. Ended up at this amazingly huge spot. 5 floors, what felt like a maze. And Scott found a stool. A Toledo architect's stool. In phenomenal shape. He nabbed that thing and we made an offer. All it needed was a little cleaning, because we like the wear that you see on the seat. Someone used this and look at it. Gorgeous. Stools are the thing now, which makes sense with all of the vintage industrial furniture out there.

That is one thing that we are happy to restore and then sell: something that is a unique, gorgeous, rustic, yet tactile object of art that happens to be functional. Just look at it. Wow. There are so many treasures waiting to be found. Just need to keep on looking.