Very little furniture was brought over from England during the early
years of the colony. Perhaps a few chests and Bible boxes were imported,
but most of the large pieces of furniture, such as tables, chairs,
bedsteads, chests-of-drawers, cupboards, benches, and cradles would
have been made in Virginia. Woods commonly used included pine, cedar,
walnut, maple, and oak.
[Illustration: FURNITURE HARDWARE AND ACCESSORIES FOUND. MUCH OF THE
FURNITURE USED IN THE JAMESTOWN HOUSES WAS MADE IN VIRGINIA.]
Furniture hardware and accessories excavated at Jamestown include
hinges, locks, drawer pulls, chest handles, escutcheon plates,
upholstering tacks, hasps, and finials. Most of the furniture hardware
is of brass (probably used after 1650). Since much of it is skillfully
decorated, it is believed that it once was attached to furniture of high
quality. Furniture used during the first two decades of the settlement,
however, must have been simple with little or no ornamentation.