Wednesday, August 12, 2009

About Iron Furniture

About Iron Furniture


Iron furniture is not only durable but stylish as well, which is why it has been popular for thousands of years. Today's iron furniture can be very modern in design or can be reproductions of items popular in the homes of the rich and famous from years ago. Once only the elite could afford iron furniture and it was the sign of prosperity. Now iron furniture comes in all price ranges, and its popularity is growing not only because it costs the same as other types, but because it goes with so many different decorating styles. Does this Spark an idea?


History


Wrought iron furniture was used as far back as the days of the Roman Empire, and cast iron beds were being made in China as far back as 550 BC. Wrought iron furniture, especially beds, was a favorite in Victorian times. Wrought iron garden furniture was first used in the 18th century. Cast iron became popular in the 19th.


Types


Iron furniture is made in two basic types: wrought iron and cast iron. Wrought iron furniture is made by hand today with factories focusing on the easier to do cast iron. Wrought iron furniture is made by bending iron into the desired shape and then welding the pieces together. Cast iron furniture is made by casting the molten metal into molds.


Features


Iron furniture is made for the garden and for every room in the house as well. Iron furniture can be both functional and purely decorative. Wrought iron furniture is the more decorative of the two types, featuring fancy designs such as fleur de lis and elaborate floral designs. Cast iron furniture has very little decoration except for features like the turnings on bed posts.


Function


Iron furniture is made for every room in the house. You can find everything from beds and chairs to formal dining room tables, end tables and coffee tables. For outdoor furniture, there are benches for sitting that come with comfortable cushions and small decorative benches that give a garden a formal look and are also used to hold decorative flower pots. Iron is also a choice for outdoor dining sets.


Considerations


Iron furniture is very durable. However, it does need to be taken care of. Moisture is the biggest enemy of iron furniture because it will cause it to rust. It can be washed with warm soapy water, but it must be dried thoroughly. Car wax will help repel any unwanted moisture, especially with the outdoor furniture.







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