Furniture sales associates seem to use the word “Mission” as much as the use the word, “free.” Is “Mission” a catch-all term for traditional-looking furniture? What is Mission Style Furniture? should help clarify the matter. Plus, we’ll talk about a great source for Amish-crafted, custom-made, solid hardwood Mission furniture.
Cape Cod Mission 6 Door Hutch
What is Mission Style Furniture?
Unlike furniture styles like Queen Anne or Empire, which draw their influences from England and France respectively, the Mission style is totally American. In fact, Mission style furniture owes its origin to the Catholic missions which sprung up in the American Southwest. Spanish missionaries built adobe-walled missions in California and elsewhere. And their simplistic building design inspired succeeding generations of artists. Over time, the ‘Mission’ style began to filter into many fields, such as sculpture, architecture, painting and furniture.
Furniture manufacturer and designer Gustav Stickley popularized the classic Mission style furniture design. And today, Mission furniture is as popular as ever. Also, it possesses a timeless appeal.
Characteristics of Mission Style Furniture
You can identify Mission furniture by its iconic characteristics. They include simple straight-line construction, extreme simplicity and fine craftsmanship. Also, Mission furniture usually has a distinct lack of unnecessary ornamentation. It’s also heavy and substantial, but well proportioned. In addition, Mission furniture is usually given a medium or dark stain.
Mission Furniture Becomes Popular
Gustav Stickley became the first craftsman to mass-produce and popularize the Mission style. After awhile, the Mission style elements of simplicity and practicality resonated deeply with the American people. So Stickley broaden his Mission furniture line to include naturalistic wicker furniture with rough-hewn wood and bark accents. Also, these new styles perfectly complemented the cleaner, sturdier Mission designs.
Mission Perfectly Expressed in Amish Furniture
So where can you find the best Mission furniture today? That would be Weaver Furniture Sales in Shipshewana, Indiana. Amish craftsmen who have settled on the fertile northern Indiana plains build Mission furniture for every room in the house. Also, the Amish men use traditional, ‘old world’ cabinetmaking techniques. Plus solid Midwestern hardwoods like oak, maple, cherry and hickory.
What’s more, Weaver Furniture’s lineup of the Mission style comes in various flavors. They include Mission, Bridger Mission, Classic Mission, Deluxe Mission, Granny Mission, Rio Mission, Royal Mission and Trestle Mission.
Visit Weaver Online or in Person
You can explore Weaver Furniture’s array of Mission furniture online at Weaver Furniture Sales. Or, check out Weaver Furniture in person by visiting their ‘brick and mortar’ store in Shipshewana, Indiana.
