No.2.5:Furniture

Why was there so much plastic on the furniture?

Well furniture can’t exactly fit on your shelf but lets roll with it. Have you ever gone to a relatives house and they had plastic covering on the sofa and loveseat? Your legs would stick to the plastic if you didn’t wear pants. Even better, you would slide down in the seat if your feet couldn’t touch the floor. To see plastic on furniture now brings a sense of nostalgia. I also remember going to an aunt’s house and her having a sitting room that we were not allowed to go in. It was fully decorated beautifully but not one single piece of decor was to be touched. 

I have pondered as to why our elders had furniture that was kept covered or prohibited from being sat on. Considering the progression of Black Americans in terms of wealth, acquiring furniture was an asset. To have a house was a major accomplishment for our grandparents. To fill it with furniture made it feel like a home. Whether it was a bed or a plain dining room table, it was something to be cherished. 

Black carpenters were critical to the Black community during the years after emancipation. When Black families were establishing their lives once the structure of slavery began to fall in the South, sources of income was limited. However, they needed to be able to provide shelter, food and clothing. Possessing the skill of carpentry was useful in maintaining shelter as well as building furniture pieces that were necessary to support families. As generational wealth grew, families were able to actually buy furniture. Whether used or new, the excitement of filling the house with a sofa or bed brings a sense of comfort to a home. It’s a symbol of progress. Not only economically but familial prosperity. 

Our ancestors and elders saw the importance of taking care of their furniture. In many cases, their home was all that they had to offer materially.  When families gathered as one, people had a couch to sit on and a bed to sleep in. The significance of sitting together as a family at the dinner table to eat as one is a symbol of unity. Being able to gather as a family for fellowship is a blessing that should not be taken for granted. 

When elders pass away, often times there is discussion as to how to divide their remaining property. Oftentimes family members want to keep these items within the family. The dining room table where many meals were served offers memories to those who had the opportunity to gather around the tabletop. Family members remember seeing their elders sitting in their favorite chair knitting, watching TV or simply relaxing. This would be the focal point of family visits. 

Safeguarding these family treasures has to be an intentional act. It’s easy to get rid of furniture but why do so when someone worked hard to acquire it in order to provide a comfortable home.

In terms of the structure of the furniture, sometimes it’s not always feasible to preserve especially if it cannot be physically used. However, if it can be salvaged then protect it as it’s a representation of someone’s  legacy. 

I have a fond memory of my grandmother’s dining room table. It was always decorated as if she was serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all 7 days of the week. The seat cushions were plush and the tabletop was a shiny tan wood. It shaped how I decorate my own dining room table. It’s always ready to welcome a warm meal. 

Do you have any pieces of furniture from your ancestors? Did it shape how you utilize or protect your own furniture?

Bonus? : Have you ever heard of the “Boyd Bedstead”? Well hopefully you did because I surely wasn't aware of him at first. Henry Boyd was a black businessman and inventor. He designed a four post bed that was coined the “Boyd Bedstread” circa 1840. There is one currently being displayed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. According to the museum’s site, the bed is made of wood and manufactured by the Boyd Manufacturing Company.