The word "solid" is associated so closely with the idea of durability and stability, that it has created a wide-spread prejudice in the public mind against veneered furniture, which is not in keeping with the fact-.

Before definitely deciding on the question one should inform one's self as to the relative qualities of veneered and solid furniture.

In the first place, veneered furniture is not made with the idea of it resembling the solid wood. They do not appear alike in the least. Some people believe they are being deceived when they are sold veneered furniture. The veneered furniture is the most beautiful furniture we have, because the veneers are so beautifully blended and matched. Built up veneered goods are as expensive, sometimes more so, than solid woods. The finest and prettiest mahogany furniture is always veneered, because the solid stock is generally plain, without special figure, while a nicely veneered piece of mahogany brings out the figures in the wood.

The veneered "panel" is generally made of five separate layers, thoroughly glued together, and the glue joints dried under great pressure. The center or "core" is of some wood which will hold glue well and is nearly the thickness of the finished panel. Around this is built a narrow frame of solid oak, mahogany or other wood, to correspond with the finish of the furniture. Across the grain of the core is glued on each side a thin veneer of some soft, glue-holding wood, across the grain of which is glued the outer veneer which takes the finish.

It is almost impossible to break or crack properly made veneered panels, and the glue joints are protected from moisture by the finish which is put on the furniture, just as is done in solid pieces.

In solid furniture all wide surfaces such as tops of tables, desks, dressers, panels, etc., must be composed of more than one piece of lumber because it is impracticable to secure one piece having a sufficient width. These pieces are glued together. Should a piece of solid furniture be subjected to sufficient moisture to penetrate the finish, the glue joint will loosen. The only conclusion is that veneered furniture is as strong, if not stronger, and more likely to endure than solid pieces. In event of scratches or defacements, one is as easily repaired as the other. Genuine quartered oak and the finer woods used in manufacturing furniture would cut to an enormous loss if worked up into boards for solid furniture. In an inch thickness of quartered oak, or other beautifully grained wood, the "pattern" would be lost bo that the, exquisite "match-in-" that exists in the fine veneered furniture would be impossible.