The Arts and Crafts Movement in
America is probably best known for the furniture
it produced. Indeed, many claim that the furniture
of the period was the one truly American product
of the movement. Most of the furniture was built
in the Midwest, particularly in Grand Rapids,
Michigan. The golden years of Grand Rapids' reign
as "Furniture City" corresponded with
the height of the Arts and Crafts influence on mission
furniture design. Roycroft and Stickley may
have conceived of the artistic elements of Arts
and Crafts mission furniture, but it was the large
manufacturers in Grand Rapids who translated their
artistic designs into affordable pieces of mission
furniture and successfully marketed them to
the masses.
Arts and Crafts furniture was often
called "mission-style" furniture. No
one is certain how it got the name mission
furniture . Some believe it is related to
the philosophy of the movement, that is the furniture
was functional and had a "mission" to
be used. Other believe it was because the mission
furniture was derivative of furniture designs
found in Franciscan missions in California. Gustav
Stickley called it "Craftsman furniture."
Other manufacturers referred to it by the name
of their particular furniture lines-"Quaint,"
or "LifeTime." Whatever it might be
called, Arts and Crafts mission
furniture was the most enduring manifestation
of the movement in America.
Stickley's early designs were
influenced by medieval furniture, Shaker furniture,
and Japanese designs. He emphasized the need for
quality craftsmanship, good proportions, rich
colors, and enhanced wood grains to achieve a
decorative effect. He produced his first Arts
and Crafts mission
furniture line in 1900, and displayed it at
the Grand Rapids Furniture Exposition that year.
He also advertised it that year in Chicago newspapers.
It soon became a popular style that others sought
to copy, especially since Stickley's line was
prohibitively expensive for most working-class
consumers.
At its height, the Grand Rapids
furniture business was as huge success, largely
due to Arts and Crafts mission
furniture style designs. "Furniture City"
boasted the largest furniture showroom in the
world.
Today many companies copy the mission
style furniture designs. However, we have notice much of it is
produced with flatsawn oak or particle board.
We at Mission oak Designs prefer to use the Quartersawn
Oak for our mission style furniture due to the characteristics, quality and durability.
We are proud to hand craft our mission
furniture using this type of wood. We offer
custom sizes and custom designs in each piece
of mission
furniture we sell.
