The Beauty and History
of
Amish Furniture
What makes Amish furniture so timeless? Perhaps it’s the commitment to traditional
values such as craftsmanship and simplicity. See how Amish woodworking
developed into a major influence within the furniture industry.
A History
of
Amish
Craftsmanship
1737
1737-1770
Twenty-one
Amish families
board a ship in
the Netherlands
headed for
North America.
More than 100 Amish
families settle in the New
World. With little more
than the clothes on their
backs, they must rely on
their own woodworking
skills for building homes
and furniture.
1830
1790s
1774
A new Amish furniture style
emerges from Soap Hollow
School in Pennsylvania,
featuring stencil-painted
embellishments in dark red,
gold and black.
The Amish at Jonestown
School in Pennsylvania
begin making painted
blanket chests, which
become
so widely
Maple, Cherry
and Sapknown
Cherry
they later end up in the
Smithsonian Museum.
A small community of
English religious radicals,
known as Shakers, arrive in
America. Their simple,
unadorned furniture will
ultimately influence the
designs of Amish
craftsmen.
1862
1898
Born in a heavily Amish township,
Henry Lapp will go on to become
one of the most renowned
cabinetmakers of his time. His
plain, undecorated style will
redefine the Amish aesthetic.
A furniture manufacturer
releases a line of furniture
loosely inspired by Spanish
missions. Amish furniture
makers later adopt the
heavy Mission style.
$$
2003
1987
1920s
A digital marketing firm
begins selling
Amish-made furnishings
online, opening up a whole
new sales avenue for
furniture makers.
A furniture exhibit at the
Grand Rapids Art Museum
signals a resurging interest
in the American Arts and
Crafts movement. This
second revival solidifies
demand for Amish furniture.
An American folk culture
revival popularizes Amish
furniture, which is prized for
its durability and handcrafted
simplicity. Demand escalates
for traditional styles such as
Shaker and Mission furniture.
A Booming Business
MORE THAN
Amish Furniture
71%
190
of Amish furniture makers
expanded their businesses
from 2006-2008 (when the rest
of the industry contracted).
MORE THAN
Amish craft shops—and hundreds of
furniture makers—operate today in:
10%
PENNSYLVANIA
OHIO
INDIANA
of hardwood lumber
in U.S. furniture
production is crafted
into Amish furniture.
AMISH WOODWORKERS USE AN ESTIMATED
44 million
FAVORITE
WOOD TYPES
board feet of
hardwood lumber
every year.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF AMISH FURNITURE
Northern red oak
Quarter-sawn white oak
100% wood
Hand-selected
materials
Sustainable
Careful attention
to wood grain
Durable
construction
Heirloom quality
Cherry
Maple
Elm
Walnut
Hickory
Amish Furniture Styles
Shaker
LINES:
Slender and unadorned, with gentle curves
LEGS:
Tapered
HARDWARE:
Rounded wood knobs
DEFINING FEATURES:
Tapering to eliminate excess materials
and keep furnishings light
WOOD OF CHOICE: Maple
STAIN: Natural
Mission
LINES:
Heavy and sturdy, with straight angles
LEGS:
Solid
HARDWARE:
Black pulls or diamond knobs
DEFINING FEATURES:
Sturdy parallel slats to make heavy
furniture appear lighter
WOOD OF CHOICE:
Oak & Quarter-Sawn White Oak
STAIN: Dark
Transitional
LINES:
Mix of gentle curves and rigid lines
LEGS:
Slightly bowed
HARDWARE:
Can be traditional pulls or modern knobs
DEFINING FEATURES:
Artistic blend of traditional and
contemporary designs
WOOD OF CHOICE: Maple, Cherry & Sap Cherry
STAIN: Warm tones
Want more examples of Amish furniture styles? Browse the vast selection of
high-quality Amish craftsmanship available from Gish’s Furniture.
SOURCES: Wikipedia, International
Union of Forest Research Organizations,
Deseret News, Wood Digest
gishs.com
Copyright © Gish's Furniture, Inc.
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