WELCOME TO CILSS ANTIQUES!

Just Some Furniture History and Interesting Facts
The first humans were nomads ( moved from place to place) and found what they needed about them from what nature provided. When they learned to cultivate the soil humans generally ceased living as hunter-gatherers. They established homes beside their cultivated land and meadows. At first these were simple huts of wood and reed, perhaps daubed with clay or mud. Later some of them learned to make homes built of nat ural stone and baked clay but this was more the exception than the rule. 

The walls of their houses were often weaker than the solid timber doors. It is not surprising then that the ancient Greek word for a 'housebreaker' has the literal meaning of 'he who breaks through a wall'. 

Did you know... Before 1600 chairs were used only by the master and mistress of the house. Everyone else had to sit on stools or benches.

American Antique Furniture
The oldest known piece of American furniture is assigned to Thomas Mulninert. It is certain that this joiner worked between 1639 and 1650 in the colony of New Haven. The trade of cabinet maker became more commonplace from 1680 onwards. 

Early furniture 
Humans only began to make furniture when they started to settle in a fixed place. 

The early furniture was understandably very primitive and entirely utilitarian but gradually the appearance of furniture also began to have more importance and it became decorated. The furnishings of wealthy households became more refined and unified in style. The ancient Greeks and Romans had stools, three-legged footstools, easy- chairs, and forms of chaise lounge. 
There were tables with one to four legs card tables and folding tables and also beds, plus large and small cabinets and chests. In Egypt these were made of different types of wood, leather, string, palm fronds, and reed. Luxury furniture was often decorated with glass and majolica with fittings of precious metal. 


AMERICAN ANTIQUES
American styles 
THE OAK AGE (1540-1660) 
THE WALNUT AGE (1660-1730) 
THE MAHOGANY AGE (1730- 1840) 
VICTORIAN AGE (1830- 1901) 

We add, frequently to this site, genuine information on antiques of all kinds. We've just started with antique furniture - make sure you start your visit in that area.

Our antique furniture area already covers  Periods and Styles of English Antique Furniture, including the popular Tester Beds,  antique cabinets, chairs and antique desks.