Traditional Amish Furniture

Amish craftsmen are known the world over for theirAmish woodworkers from the Lancaster and Indiana
beautiful and high-quality solid wood furniture. Thecommunities. With each woodworker adding his own
Amish only use solid wood, and their creations areindividual touch to his furniture, each finished piece is
therefore strong and durable, lasting for manyunlike any other.
generations. Not only do they use the best qualityWhatever room you need to furnish-bedroom, living
wood, but their workmanship is unequaled. Amishroom, kitchen, dining room, or home office-there are
furniture certainly stands out in a modern worlda wide variety of Amish pieces to choose from. The
where nearly every product on the market ismost popular items tend to be beds, dressers, and
mass-produced. The Amish craft these high-qualitydining room tables. A matching set in any room will
products, not so much because of personal pride, butcomplete a distinctive room décor. More
more of a way of worshipping their God throughunique pieces include heirloom-quality baby cribs and
action.rocking chairs. The newest trend in Amish pieces is
Amish craftsmen are particular in selecting the rightdurable outdoor furniture for your patio or deck.
wood for their projects. Oak and quartersawn oakWhatever your needs, there is definitely something
are the predominant woods used in the constructionfor everyone.
of most pieces, but sometimes projects call for otherAlthough the Amish maintain their principles and
woods such as cherry, maple, hickory, black walnut,remain free from electricity, they do take advantage
cedar, and even pine. With its beautiful grain lines andof diesel generators to power pneumatic or hydraulic
honey coloration, oak has become widely distributedtools to mill and construct their fine furniture pieces.
in the United States and Canada. But a craftsmanThe use of these generators doesn't contradict
might choose cherry when producing aAmish belief systems, because they remain in Amish
Queen-Anne-style piece. Cedar makes a great woodcontrol whereas electricity is supplied and controlled
for storage chests, in that its lovely scent is perfectby the outside world. Furthermore, they allow more
for storing clothing and other linens. Another populartime for the final finish detail work to be done by
choice is either hickory or maple, which are both lighthand. This also gives a craftsman more time to
colored and extremely hard.handpick each piece of wood so that the colors and
Amish furniture designs range from artfully simple towood grains work together to create and
ornately curved, with the most recognizable styleseye-pleasing effect. After an older son finishes his
being Mission, Shaker, and Queen Anne. Other popularformal classroom schooling, his father will then train
styles include: Traditional/Heritage, Contemporary,him in all the intricacies of woodworking, and so the
Bavarian, Bunker Hill, Carlisle, Hampton, McCoy,expertise passes from generation to generation.
Modesto, Slat Mission, Shaker Hill, Spring Hill, RioIn years past, you could only find Amish furniture in
Grande, Royal Mission, West Lake, Southwestern,antique shops and local stores. But today many of
Rustic, Cottage, and Beachfront. Mission and Shakerthese shops are online and thus Amish furniture has
designs feature simple square designs; other stylesbecome accessible to the world. "English" intermediate
have much more curve and ornamentation, such asbusinessmen either buy directly from the Amish or
Queen Anne and Bunker Hill. Styles will vary fromwork with them to establish and manage an online
area to area; however, most furniture is made bystorefront.