November, 19 21 
5 
Why our Colonial forefathers 
liked Mahogany furniture 
Tj'OR the seventy years preceding the Revo¬ 
lutionary War, American Colonists lived in 
greater comfort, even luxury, than did people 
of like circumstances in England. The colonies 
enjoyed a brisk trade with the Barbadoes and 
Jamaica. Mahogany logs were brought North 
and more Mahogany furniture was made in New 
England than Old England knew. Chests of 
drawers, highboys, sturdy Windsor chairs and 
desks were turned out in large numbers. The 
possession of Genuine Mahogany meant a substantial 
standing in the community fust as it does today. 
ass 
Our Colonial forbears had a tremendous 
pride in the appearance of their homes. In every 
residence of importance, the “best” room was 
almost a shrine. In it were kept the finest pieces 
of Mahogany furniture. 
Mahogani Chest of Drawers’ ’ and “my carven 
Mahogani Bedstead” are alluded to with the 
respect due beloved possessions. 
The universal desire to own articles of Gen¬ 
uine Mahogany is just as evident today. The 
young housekeeper looks forward to the time 
when she can furnish her dining room with 
“real” Mahogany. A Mahogany table or desk 
is looked upon as being a desirable gift to the 
head of the house. 
And while the desire to own Genuine Ma¬ 
hogany is just as strong as it was in the times 
of the Colonial Dames, care must be exercised 
to see that furniture bought today is Genuine 
Mahogany and not a substitute. 
If you pay for Mahogany you ought to get 
Mahogany—and nothing else. 
Fine wall paperwas commonly used after 1745. 
The interior trim was usually painted white, 
but beautiful Mahogany newel-posts and rails, 
Mahogany plate rails and wainscoating are 
frequently found. 
Perhaps no other 
wood is so closely 
identified with the 
romance of Colonial 
daysas is Mahogany. 
We find inventories 
of household fur¬ 
niture as far back as 
1708 in which “my 
The Mahogany Association is co-operating 
with the furniture man¬ 
ufacturers and dealers of 
the United States in an 
effort to aid the pur¬ 
chaser of furniture in his 
desire to get Genuine 
Mahogany. A return to 
the days of Genuine 
Mahogany is apparent. 
Mahogany is the wood 
of fashion and refinement 
today just as it has been 
for the last three hundred 
years. 
After all—there’s nothing like 
MAHOGANY 
MAHOGANY ASSOCIATION, 3 47 Madison Avenue, NEW YORK 
