Nov

20

Amish Furniture and Tradition

Posted In: Interior Design News

The Amish population of North America numbers about 150,000. These populations are concentrated in Ohio (the largest group is here), Pennsylvania, Iowa and Indiana. The Amish call themselves the plain people for their plain clothing and lifestyles. Among themselves, the Amish speak a dialect of German called Pennsylvania Dutch and try to avoid any more than casual contact with outsiders (who they call the English). The Amish live happily without the modern conveniences we take for granted: telephones, cars, even electricity.

Amish culture is deeply rooted in their Christian faith. They will not pose for photographs, since they believe that this violates the Biblical injunction against creating graven images, as well as a conviction that photographs lead to the sin of pride. The Amish will go to great lengths to avoid being photographed.

The history of the Amish goes back centuries and unlike many other cultures, the Amish have refused to adapt to a changing world, staying close to their roots. The Amish can trace their history to the Mennonites, a pacifist Christian Anabaptist group originating in Switzerland. A schism within the Mennonite movement in 1693 was the origin of the Amish as a separate group.

The Mennonites and Amish have their differences, but are still closely connected and the two groups will often live in close proximity to each other. Both follow many of the same basic practices and believe in a life of work and simplicity. One of the shared traditions of both groups is manufacturing high quality furniture which tends to become family heirlooms.

One of the hallmarks of Amish furniture is its solid wood construction with no modern materials like laminates or particle board being used. Amish craftsmen pay great attention to detail and bringing out the best in each piece of hand selected wood. Amish furniture is famous for its quality workmanship and these pieces can be handed down from generation to generation. Amish furniture began to be well known outside of Amish communities in the 1920’s with a rise in the popularity of folk art.

Amish woodworkers do all of their incredibly high quality work without the benefit of electricity. All of their tools are either hand tools, hydraulically powered or pneumatically powered with some using diesel generators. The fine details and finishing work are done by hand with the attention to quality for which Amish craftsmen are known. One common trait of Amish furniture is five piece English dovetail joints used in drawers and drawer glides using steel ball bearings.

While there are others, the styles for which Amish furniture makers are best known are Shaker and Mission styles. The Shaker style is characterized by simplicity and functionality, while Mission style is identifiable by exposed joinery, straight lines and clean design. Regardless of style, Amish furniture is built to last.

Amish woodworkers learn their craft from their elders; families will begin teaching younger members the skill early in life by having them help in the family shop.

Naturally, the Amish don’t use the Internet. However, they do sell furniture to businesses who resell Amish furniture and crafts. Retailers such as Barn Furniture Mart will attend Amish furniture showcases and expositions to meet the craftsmen and act as a intermediary between the woodworker and the buyer. This has made Amish woodworking craftsmanship available to everyone.

Find the largest selection of Amish made furniture. Whether you’re looking for bedroom, dining or living room furniture we have everything you need. We carry American made wood platform beds and a space saving folding bookcase that will provide that extra space you need when you need it. So if you’re looking for quality furniture give us a visit.

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