subject: Amish Furniture Styles, Quality, And Heritage [print this page] Amish furniture is handcrafted and uniqueAmish furniture is handcrafted and unique. They pay close attention to the details in each piece of wood while making the furniture and they choose the piece of wood specifically to complement the piece of furniture they are constructing.
They do not use cheap laminate or particle board - they use only solid wood such as oak, hickory, cherry, maple or brown maple, and quartersawn oak. The majority of custom Amish furniture also includes resistovar finish which is a tough, durable finish that can typically resist most chemicals, paint thinners, acetone, etc.
Amish furniture is not only aesthetically and visually appealing, it is also sturdy and crafted to last a lifetime. The Amish take great pride in each piece of furniture they hand craft and they consider their pieces an art form as much as functional furniture.
There are many different styles of Amish furniture, which all have their own distinct characteristics, such as dovetailed drawers, countersunk screws, tough-as-nails finishes and mortise and tenon joints. Some specific and popular styles include:
- Mission: This style has a clean and modern look, represented by straight lines.
- Shaker: This style is premised on being durable and functional. While elegant, it is often a very basic and simple design.
- Queen Anne: This style is exactly opposite of the Mission and Shaker styles. It is more traditional in nature and is constructed with visual appeal in mind. It consists of more uniquely carved ornamentation, foot details, and ornate moldings.
- Other styles include Southwestern, Rustic, Cottage, Beachfront, Contemporary, Old World and Traditional.
While customers can now purchase Amish furniture online, the Amish are actually prohibited from running the websites, due to their beliefs. The websites are typically run by non-Amish retailers that frequent expositions in Ohio and Indiana featuring Amish furniture.
Custom Amish furniture covers a vast array of furniture for your entire house. The categories of furniture they produce include:
- Children's: beds, dressers, chairs and benches, dolls and doll furniture, highchairs, tables, crib and toys.
- Living Room: living room furniture, chairs, coffee tables, end tables, bookcases and entertainment centers.
- Office: office furniture, computer desks, bookcases and filing cabinets.
- Hallway and Entryway: hallway furniture, entry furniture, hall seats and benches, hall trees and coat racks.
- Kitchen: kitchen accessories, baskets, breadboxes, cookbooks and cutting boards.
- Home Accessories and Art: Amish art, bookends, Bible boxes and holders.
Amish furniture is some of the most reliable and sturdy furniture you can buy. It is passed down from generation to generation and becomes a family heirloom. The Amish people are extremely hard-working and they take great pride in constructing their furniture the right way, even if it takes longer or is harder to complete.
Prior to selling custom Amish furniture to people all over the United States, they originally made furniture for their own families. They haven't changed their standards or quality of the furniture they now produce for your family.
Since there are so many different types and styles of Amish furniture, it is often helpful to follow some basic guidelines while shopping for this furniture. These tips include:
- Determine which pieces you need. If you need an entire set, it is often more cost effective to purchase the entire set at once. Otherwise, you can purchase pieces individually as needed.
- Amish furniture tends to be larger in size compared to typical furniture. Measure the areas where you want the furniture to be placed and make sure it will fit.
- Choose your stain carefully since they are often hard to match if you purchase pieces from different makers. It is best to purchase pieces that will go together from the same maker. Most sellers will provide you with stain samples if you ask for them.
- Make sure you completely understand and agree to any extra delivery or shipping fees. Amish furniture is extremely heavy and often requires additional fees as a result.
- Since Amish furniture is custom made, using non-traditional methods and tools, it can take up to 12 weeks to build. Smaller items, such as toys and kitchen items can be built and shipped sooner.
Each piece of Amish furniture is a work of art in and of itself. Everyone who steps foot in your home will admire your Amish furniture. The hard work, detail and love that is behind each piece is evident in the end result. This furniture will transcend time, as well as your individual style.
