Our guide to embossed silver furniture

Silver embossed furniture – where does it come from?

Metal embossed furniture is essentially Indian furniture. For centuries Indian craftsmen have embossed and hammered intricate designs into copper, brass and white metal, using the decorative material to create ornate objects and ornate metal furniture. Although this style of intricate design is widely accepted and admired by Indians, it was relatively over looked by UK homeowners until recently when a few trendy individuals took white metal furniture and incorporated it into modern, fashionable spaces where it took on a new life of its own. As the trend grew slowly, so did the supply, and soon the ever industrious Chinese recognised the opportunity and began to manufacture the embossed silver furniture in small factories that were experienced in exporting to the UK. Our Indian furniture therefore begins life in South East China, but the techniques used to produce it are true to the original art.

Metal embossed furniture materials

Many people mistakenly believe that embossed Indian furniture is made entirely of metal. It is true that at face value the shiny silver furniture looks as though it could be, although this would be impractical and costly. It is in fact manufactured from wood, which allows for the easy carving of shapely details, and gives it a lightweight usability which is perfect for most modern homes. The base of each piece of metal embossed furniture is manufactured from a combination of solid wood and composite materials, with the wood used to carve the sometimes intricate details and the composite for the drawers and straight sections which require less skill. In order to create the silver patterned finish of the white metal furniture these wooden structures are then covered completely in silver embossed aluminium sheeting. The sheeting covers the top, front, and sides of each individual piece of silver furniture, and is secured tightly giving it the impression that the embossed furniture is metal throughout. The edges and details are then carefully painted by hand. On the silver furniture these edges, lips and ledges are painted silver to match the embossed metal. The back of each piece of embossed furniture is also painted silver in keeping with the rest of the finish.

Standard characteristics of silver metal furniture

Silver embossed furniture is a handmade product which is fundamentally design-led. So if you are an individual who is meticulous about smooth surfaces, clean lines and solid mahogany then Indian embossed furniture may not be for you. By its very nature embossed Indian furniture defies accuracy and rejoices in imperfection, therefore characteristics such as minor scratches, scuffs and imperfect joins are standard of all Indian furniture, and give these silver furniture ranges a rough and ready, vintage-furniture appeal. Embossed metal furniture is never perfect in a precise sense, however it is perfect for normal everyday use. Our embossed furniture range is durable, practical and incredibly glamorous, with reflective surfaces, shapely designs and unique details. It suits spirited, quirky individuals who appreciate the idea of what we call “Camden-chic.” - The idea that something doesn’t have to be perfect in order to be admired. For further information regarding the quality and characteristics of the embossed silver furniture please follow this link: embossed metal furniture quality.

Metal embossed furniture – the never ending variations.

Another fascinating characteristic of embossed silver furniture is the ever changing variations which are spread throughout these silver furniture ranges available in the UK today. It is generally accepted that all handmade products vary from piece to piece, but this style of Indian furniture is quirkier still. Because the metal embossed furniture is manufactured in small, traditional factories manufacturing techniques and details differ from supplier to supplier, so if you intend on buying several pieces of embossed silver furniture ensure you do so from the same retailer as if you purchase from two different places you may find that although the units look the same in an image, they are different in the flesh. Some common inconsistencies to watch out for are detailed below:

The varying dimensions of handmade Indian furniture

This can really catch you out if you buy your metal embossed furniture form separate places. As this particular style of silver furniture is handmade, dimensions can vary. Generally the dimensions are the same within a batch from a particular supplier, but do avoid buying one bedside from one supplier and another from elsewhere as you may find one is slightly shorter than the other! Here at Out There we have experienced this first hand, and ensure that if you purchase a pair of embossed bedside tables from us you will always receive a pair from the same batch.

The unique patterns of embossed Indian furniture

There are two main patterns on the market, a flower print and a curly print. Our white metal furniture generally comes in the flower pattern, but variations are difficult to spot in images, so our advice is to check with the retailer if you’re not buying a one-off piece of embossed Indian furniture. We think both patterns are equally as pretty and feature close up shots of the finish on most of the product pages within the embossed furniture section.

Silver metal furniture handles:

You’ll notice that some of the handles on our metal embossed furniture are black wooden knobs, and others are cut glass. This usually differs from supplier to supplier, but not always! Again this type of detail is very sporadic, so if you know that you definitely want a particular handle on your embossed furniture, buy from a retailer (like us) who will a) notice, and b) be able to select you the correct product and ensure it matches your others pieces of shiny silver furniture.

Embossed Indian furniture drawer linings:

In an effort to cut costs you will find that some retailers and suppliers choose to forgo lining the drawers of their white metal furniture. This is a small detail but does make a difference with regards to quality. The cheapest embossed Indian furniture has a black wooden interior which is not finished smoothly, so it’s easy to catch delicate clothes on rough areas. Here at Out There we go the extra mile and line the drawers in all our embossed silver furniture. The majority of our embossed metal furniture has drawers lined with black velvet.

Traditional Indian furniture and the Chinese whispers effect.

Want a laugh at how truly sad we are here at Out There? Here’s something that proves just how obsessed we are with metal embossed furniture. Slight variation of design is something a customer looking at white metal furniture for the first time will almost certainly not notice. But when you’ve dealt in this type of embossed silver furniture for many years you become sensitive to every variation possible. Take a look at the two images below and you’ll see that the intricate skirting is missing from the bottom of the embossed chest on the left! This is a fundamental part of the original design which has been removed in order to cut costs. These two pieces of Indian furniture may look the same on the internet but when you put the two chests side by side the difference really does stand out. The one on the right looks authentic and detailed, and the other looks like what it is: an inferior copy.

Caring for your embossed metal furniture

Caring for this style of Indian furniture is not a difficult task. It is robust and durable surviving a whole manner of abuse from children, pets and hot cups. We actually use commissioned embossed metal desks in the Out There offices, and the pieces have served us wonderfully. Wipe your silver furniture down with a damp cloth every so often to clean it, and avoid using abrasive clothes – the usual stuff really. We’re not sure about unusual conditions such as steamy bathrooms and hot radiators simply because we have not tested the metal embossed furniture in these environments, but you may well get away with using the silver furniture in these conditions (after all the embossed metal furniture begins its life in a humid climate).

Repairing your white metal furniture

Your embossed silver furniture should last you many years, and as mentioned above it is fully capable of surviving a whole manner of everyday abuse! Should any of the metal begin to peel through years of wear and tear it can be easily secured again with a strong adhesive. If you accidentally scrape an edge or continually bash a corner of your piece of embossed furniture when leaving a room, you can touch up the imperfections easily with silver paint. Should you require a change of scenery, you can also (believe it or not) reinvent your silver furniture by spraying it different colours! Want gold embossed furniture? It can be done!

Using embossed silver furniture to best effect

We’ll admit that occasionally our images of silver embossed furniture show the furniture in a darker light, which gives the impression that the surface of the furniture is matt silver, almost like brushed steel. This is not the case. In the flesh our embossed silver furniture is bright and shiny. It bounces light around a room and is perfect for dark corners and areas where space is limited. The tactile, reflective nature of this style of Indian furniture makes it extremely glamorous. It can be used to create a luxurious sensual bedroom, an ethnic inspired boudoir or statement talking point in a simple modern room. It works beautifully teamed with mirrored furniture and vintage accessories. The embossed silver furniture adds an exciting and unexpected element in a trendy eclectic room.

Different pieces of silver embossed furniture

So let’s talk now about the different types of embossed silver furniture we have available. We only pick the cream of the crop when it comes to the metal embossed furniture. There are a few pieces we don’t sell due to quality reasons, or the fact that a particular piece does not work so well with the others. Our white metal furniture works beautifully together and all the elements and small details such as feet, handles and edges are uniform.

Bedsides in our Indian furniture range:

When it comes to the bedroom you have quite a few options with regards to embossed bedside tables. Our silver metal furniture range incorporates three different sizes and styles of embossed bedside table : Angel – tall, skinny and delicate with one drawer, is perfect for those with higher beds, limited space or just an awkward corner that could benefit from a sprinkling of silver embossed furniture. She is very well priced at £75 each, meaning that almost anyone can experience the impact that silver furniture has on a living space.

Then there is Kendra – large and curvy, she features four deep drawers with cut glass handles, ideal for those who need extra storage and have a little more space to play with. Kendra is also perfect as a stand-alone piece of metal embossed furniture, she makes a wonderful hallway feature with a mirror hung above, or used as an ideal small chest of drawers in a children’s room.

Finally Kirsten is the perfect standard sized bedside table for most modern homes. She has two drawers with glass handles and a beautiful ethnic shape which incidentally caught the eye of influential people and catapulted the embossed silver furniture into our lives. Kirsten was one of the original pieces of white metal furniture, and was the piece which captured our imaginations initially. Therefore if it wasn’t for Kirsten we wouldn’t be selling metal embossed furniture.

Chests in our embossed Indian furniture range

Moving onto chests in the silver metal furniture range, we have Leanne, currently exclusive to Out There she is the Indian furniture equivalent of a French chest of drawers, with three larger drawers ideal for those who need extra storage. Then we have Mercedes another popular piece which along with Kirsten forms the backbone of the embossed furniture range. Mercedes is a great example of what makes this silver furniture Indian furniture. Eight smaller drawers grouped in sets of four, form this chest’s captivating ethnic design which has been endlessly popular with interior designers and trendy individuals who recognise unique style. Mercedes is perfect as a small stand-alone piece of metal embossed furniture but also works wonderfully as a wide nightstand given enough space either side of the bed. Her small drawers are perfect for underwear, makeup, letters, post and other odds and ends which inevitably gather around the home no matter how strict we try to be.

Tables in our Indian furniture range

When considering the tables, Sabrina is more than enough to satisfy most silver furniture lovers. She features three drawers with delicate cut glass handles, slender legs and a unique shapely design which makes her a very versatile and popular addition to the Indian furniture range. She is advertised as a dressing table within the silver furniture range, and yet is perfect as a desk or console table.

Tessa is a very special piece of embossed metal furniture. Large and impressive she is the perfect desk or even small dining table. She was originally inspired by an antique desk, and has brought this old design back to life with a bang. The three large drawers make her a really useful piece, and she is by far the largest and most striking table in the metal embossed furniture range.

Other pieces of embossed silver furniture

Interestingly, Natalia the TV unit in the metal embossed furniture range isn’t modelled on any piece of Indian Furniture (or French furniture for that matter). She was inspired by our ever popular mirrored TV unit Tanya, who’s wonderfully versatile design lends itself to all sorts of uses. Unlike the majority of white metal furniture Natalie is also embossed at the back, allowing her to be placed in the middle of the room as a standard coffee table.

We felt that Natalia needed some company in the lounge, so along came Caroline – the embossed metal nest of tables. This is a really interesting addition to the silver embossed furniture range, being practical, versatile and quite simple in design, allowing those who wouldn’t usually chose Indian furniture or ethnic design to spice up their lounge and get involved with our embossed silver furniture.

New pieces of metal embossed furniture

We are designing and commissioning new pieces of embossed silver furniture continually. Soon to be featured in the metal embossed furniture range, will be a larger chest of drawers for extra storage, mirrors and stools for those wishing to glam up and accessorize – plus a long awaited and much anticipated embossed metal wardrobe which absolutely rocks our word!

Embossed silver furniture is here to stay

The embossed metal furniture range is absolutely here to stay. It is one of our primary ranges here at Out There and we don’t see it going anywhere soon. As individuals get more and more confident in their interior design choices white embossed furniture will grow and grow. It is a daring and extravagant statement that will make those who are safe and traditional in their design choices gawp at what they’re missing. This style of Indian furniture is sexy, interesting and gloriously imperfect. It has tradition and history, and yet is current and bang on trend. Metal embossed furniture says ‘I’m a unique care-free individual who enjoys the good life’. It is the most beautiful silver furniture you can buy.