We all know and love furniture made from reclaimed wood. Not only is it gorgeous and unique, but it’s also environmentally sustainable. At Wallaroo’s, we care about all of our homes, including the planet we all live on. That’s why we source our beautiful reclaimed wood accents directly from India. Just check these out!
Preparing for this blog, we dug deep into history to learn as much as we could about the reclamation process. We learned lots of exciting things we’d like to share with you. As we often do, we started with an examination of the language itself.
A Brief History of Reclaimed Wood
The word reclaim has a long, vibrant history in the history of our language. From the Latin “re” (back) + “clamare” (to shout), the word reclamare meant “to cry out against”. A protest. The word took a brief detour in France, where Falconers used the word reclamer for the shout used to call back their birds of prey.
From this context of man’s control over the vital, natural world, the word came into Middle English. At this time, to reclaim was to “redeem from a state of vice” or “to tame, civilize.” In a relatively short period of time, reclamare came full circle. Originally a word to denote protest, it evolved into a word used for man to exert dominion over the natural world.
You’re likely already familiar with the most recent twist in the reclamation saga: reclaimed hardwood. It is the process of reclaiming human debris from nature. This cleans up the environment Earth while responsibly sourcing building materials.
Beginning in the 1970s, reclaiming hardwood didn’t see notoriety until the 1990s. The movement gained traction amidst the early underpinnings of the climate movement and the declining quality of new lumber. By the 90s, as the practice of proper waste disposal and deconstruction became industry standard, reclaiming lumber became the standard.
The Reclaiming and Restoration Process
The reclamation process is traditionally associated with the derelict barn. However, there are many other sources for reclaimed wood, including wood waste generated from manufacturing furniture. There’s also the process of water reclamation, which allows folks to source wood from sinker logs, forests that have been submerged for decades, or even rare and exotic pieces of wood floating along the river looking for a new home.
Reclaimed Accents from India at Wallaroo’s
Wallaroo’s struggled to find high-quality accent furniture that fits into our line of unique furniture for years. We weren’t interested in selling particleboard at a premium and we always have our eye on responsibly sourced materials. Nathan was stoked when he found a family-owned business in Jaipur India with an eye for teal and quality that amazed us. We finally had a line of reclaimed wood accents!
Three years and countless containers of this product later, our love has grown and these accents from India are a mainstay at Wallaroo’s Furniture and Mattresses. Why? Because each of these pieces is truly one-of-a-kind. Handcrafted from responsibly sourced reclaimed hardwood and metals, these accent pieces are worthy of being a family heirloom.
They’ve already survived, in some cases, hundreds of years in the wilderness! We’re sure they’ll survive a few more in your living room. Imagine having a responsibly sourced cabinet like this in your home!
In addition to furnishing your home with a truly unique Accent from India, you’ll also do your part to curb deforestation, support two family-owned businesses, and invest in a beautiful piece of furniture your family will cherish for generations to come. Check out our unique catalog of Accents from India to get a taste for our selection. Then come on down to your nearest Wallaroo’s Furniture and Mattresses to select the perfect piece for your home. Wherever you live.
