The Old Century Workshop reproduces pre-1870 country furniture of eastern Canada, Quebec, Ontario and occasionally, the United States. This particular era distinguishes itself by the fact that each piece of furniture is usually the work of a single craftsman from the beginning to the end. Each village has more than one cabinetmaker or joiner meeting the demand of a local population and these craftsmen often compete against one another by the beauty, the detail and the originality they incorporate into their latest piece.
After 1870, the industrial revolution gains momentum, it is the beginning of mass production. Furniture becomes more streamline and the industry gradually tosses aside traditional time-consuming joinery for a faster and less durable assembly.
As in the days of yore, the antique furniture reproductions of The Old Century Workshop are the work of a single craftsman who respects tradition. The purpose of the enterprise is to offer an authentic, solid and useful alternative to an antique that would risk further deterioration with daily use. Just like an antique our furniture will appreciate over time as cost of materials and labour increases. In one hundred years from now, our reproductions will be equally valuable as they will have become antiques in their own right.