Amish craftsmen are known the world over for their beautiful and high-quality solid wood furniture. The Amish only use solid wood, and their creations are therefore strong and durable, lasting for many generations. Not only do they use the best quality wood, but their workmanship is unequaled. Amish furniture certainly stands out in a modern world where nearly every product on the market is mass-produced. The Amish craft these high-quality products, not so much because of personal pride, but more of a way of worshipping their God through action.
Amish craftsmen are particular in selecting the right wood for their projects. Oak and quartersawn oak are the predominant woods used in the construction of most pieces, but sometimes projects call for other woods such as cherry, maple, hickory, black walnut, cedar, and even pine. With its beautiful grain lines and honey coloration, oak has become widely distributed in the United States and Canada. But a craftsman might choose cherry when producing a Queen-Anne-style piece. Cedar makes a great wood for storage chests, in that its lovely scent is perfect for storing clothing and other linens. Another popular choice is either hickory or maple, which are both light colored and extremely hard.
The Amish take great pride in their traditional lifestyle and they also take great pride in their woodworking skills, passed on from generation to generation. After being a secret for hundreds of years, Amish furniture is now prized the world over for its beauty and durability, handcrafted from hardwoods such as red oak and maple for lasting value. In addition, the Amish specialize in certain pieces that modern factories can’t duplicate, such as very large dining tables, bentwood rockers, and clock cases. All of this comes naturally to this unique culture, because furniture making has always been integral to the Amish identity and economy.
In the late 1600s, the Amish splintered from the Mennonites. Both were Anabaptists who believed in adult baptism and strict rules of conduct, and they were often persecuted in Europe. They took to heart a verse in the Bible from II Corinthians 6:17: “Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” So they formed their own farming communities and learned to be self-sufficient, making their own furniture, candles, cloth, and tools. Even staying to themselves, the Amish people were persecuted in Switzerland, Germany, and other parts of Europe. When William Penn claimed that his new state across the Atlantic would offer religious freedom, they fled to America around 1730.
Most art and crafts lovers want to posses at least one piece of furniture made by the Amish. The beauty and intricate designing of Amish furniture inspire even the most disinterested person to admire it. For the uninitiated, Amish are a unique community living lives in absolute isolation. They do not communicate with the rest of the society and follow their own laws and codes of conduct. The Amish earn their living by farming and other activities that require manual labor. Their exceptional woodworking skills have made them famous throughout the world and people clamor to get one of the Amish handcrafted furniture pieces.
In most cases the material used to make the furniture is wood. The Amish go all out and do every single activity required in making furniture with their hands. It is for this reason that you will never find any factory-made duplicates of Amish furniture. The durability of these furniture pieces is legendary. The timeless appeal and the perfect finishing of the furniture make the furniture very well known throughout the world. Particularly, Internet has given an impetus to the sale of these furniture products and people from around the world buy them now.
Wondering why furniture created by Amish craftsmen is so loved and desired across the world? This article will focus on the specialty of each creation.
Firstly each creation has a personal touch which is so rare in the mechanized world of today. The simplicity of the lives of Amish communities keeps people mystified. The slow and painstaking process that they follow for all their activities is unthinkable for the rest of the world. The ways of the old still followed by them in the furniture world ensure that the pieces turn out unique. The furniture items show the exclusivity of each craftsman’s work. Whether it is the complete dining furniture or simple single items, Amish craftsmen make them look out of the world.
There are different types of Amish furniture. Each type has its own interesting touch. There are the mission and shaker styles which have simple and clean look. Another common style is the Queen Anne style which is more traditional and ornate. Other styles are Southwestern, rustic, prairie, cottage and beachfront. Each style is crafted with immense patience and attention to details. Moreover, the methods used to create these pieces are environmentally friendly. Each and every piece is one of a kind, an achievement that is so rare in today’s world
Amish furniture is not just your ordinary furniture; it is a work of art enriched with the proud tradition and history of its crafters, the Amish Mennonites. All the furniture done by these highly skilled craftsmen went through the painstaking and rigorous process of handcrafting. Expect all these fine creations to have distinct character and individuality you will not find in the furniture that are mass produced in an assembly line. The attention to detail and intricate design is so amazing that these creations are a class of their own and are simply the best among the best of furniture.
The community of Amish is reclusive in nature and their lifestyle is devoid of the trappings of modern living. They are excessively passionate about retaining old traditions in every aspect of their lives. You see the evident old-style character in the unique Amish furniture that they create. The material selection, wood working tools used and up to the finishing method are replete of old style work and equipment.
They don’t have a dedicated link with the modern world and they establish contact only for the bare necessities of their community. These are the main reasons why Amish furniture successfully blends quality and individuality which is so distinct of Amish. Due to this limited contact with the modern society, conventional market set up for their creation is next to impossible. By the nature of their way of life, establishment of a logical and practical distribution system for their furniture is a serious proposition. They usually reach their target market through reliable and dedicated websites that specialize in the distribution of their creations to a specific segment in the market. This only means that the only way we can get hold of our dream Amish furniture is through these dealer-middlemen. They form the critical link between the old tradition Amish community and prospective buyers from the modern world.
The Amish furniture is a fine craft with unique and distinctive style created by Amish Mennonite artisans who are primarily based in Shipshewana, Indiana and in Ohio. This fine furniture is famous for being made out of 100% wood and no element of particle board or laminate are used in all of these fine Amish creations.
The popularity and quality of these fine creations of the Amish Mennonites is anchored on their attention to the intricate detail and design of the furniture. Every wood component passes through a thorough selection process to achieve a perfect match to the specific requirement of the furniture. Amish Mennonite artisans consider the fine details like the grain of the wood in the overall blend of every wood component that is assembled to create fine furniture. Amish furniture is also renowned for its sustainability and durability and is expected to be a precious creation to be used by future generations.
Amish Production Techniques Used
The beliefs of Amish Mennonites prevent them from using electricity in any of their fine creations. As such, majority of the tools that they use are run by pneumatic and hydraulic power from diesel generators. In very rare situations, technology finds its way into the production process and certain leeway is given in the woodworking component as this is the main source of livelihood of majority of Amish families within a community.
However, the intricate finish and design of Amish furniture are done by hand by highly skilled Amish artisans to achieve the highest quality of which these crafts are known for.