What Makes Classical Furniture Special?

What sets classical furniture apart is not the amount of ornament. It is form, proportion, workmanship and the choice of materials that give a piece its character.

What is the difference between classical and contemporary classical furniture?

Classical furniture carries the proportions, carved details and formal language of historical styles. Contemporary interpretations take that inheritance and loosen it: freer forms, unexpected colours, a modern reading of an old silhouette. In both cases the piece has to be consistent with itself; a carved leg and a plain back rarely belong on the same chair.

Why does hand carving matter?

In carved work, the depth of the motif, the flow of the lines and the transitions across the surface decide how the piece reads. A detail must be beautiful on its own, but it must also sit in balance with the arm, the back and the leg. At Artlife every carving is done by hand; no machine carving is used.

What does the wooden frame do?

The parts of a sofa or armchair you never see, the load-bearing frame, decide how long it will last. The quality of the timber matters, and so do the choice of sections and the care taken over every joint.

Joints in a sofa frame.

What are the stages of production?

Design and measurement come first, followed by timber preparation, frame, carving, surface finishing and upholstery. Artlife carries out all of these in its own workshop in Istanbul. A decision at one stage shapes the workmanship, and the final look, of the next.

The eight stages of production, from drawing to upholstery.

How do you recognise good workmanship?

Look at the balance of parts that should be symmetrical, the cleanness of the joints, the tension of the upholstery and the consistency of the finish, all together. Judging the whole piece tells you more than any single showy detail.