History of teak wood furniture manufacturing
Quite from the beginning of the nineteenth century the Dutch colonists got acquainted with the exceptional qualities of teak wood. As no other wood, teak can face up to the environment influences generated both by dampness, dryness, sea salt and the sudden temperature fluctuations.
At that time wide areas on Java Island had been cleared for agriculture purposes and the teak wood thus obtained had been used particularly in civil engineering and shipbuilding.
Thanks to its invaluable qualities the wood was in great demand and as teak trees were found solely in the jungle and their growth ratio was too slow, teak wood was very difficult to get and very expensive. This resulted in setting up plantations on vast areas in the middle of the nineteenth century (at that time perspectives were not made on long term).
After the Second World War, Indonesia became independent and the former Dutch plantations were transferred to the administration of Indonesian Ministry for Forestry. An own particular company was established under the name of PERHUTANI, which has been in charge of the most part of teak tree plantations on Java Island up to present. The clearing and replanting plans make Indonesia the only country at this moment with extended plantations of teak trees, with mature trees, ready to be cleaved, even though countries such Thailand, Vietnam and states from South America catch up with Indonesia rapidly.
Countries from Africa, such as Burma and Congo, possess small plantations, however they have trees grown in the tropical forests, in natural environment.
Javanese tradition in furniture manufacture is old. Thanks to its durability and resistance, teak wood was used outside Indonesia only in shipbuilding industry until 30 years ago. The centre of Javanese furniture industry is located in the central area of Java, the region around Semarang, nevertheless cities of Jogyakarta, Solo and Bali recuperate rapidly tanks to the high affluence of tourists.
A historical exception from the above mentioned represents the so called “English Garden Tradition”, which, quite from the last century, revealed superb teak furniture designs that last partially unchanged up to nowadays and represent a model for young designers. In the last thirty years a market for teak garden furniture from plantation grown wood developed in Central Europe and North America, and the trend for more beautiful designs and a higher value material mix combining two or more precious materials consolidated this development. |
