Traditional Amish Furniture

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.

Amish furniture designs range from artfully simple to ornately curved, with the most recognizable styles being Mission, Shaker, and Queen Anne. Other popular styles include: Traditional/Heritage, Contemporary, Bavarian, Bunker Hill, Carlisle, Hampton, McCoy, Modesto, Slat Mission, Shaker Hill, Spring Hill, Rio Grande, Royal Mission, West Lake, Southwestern, Rustic, Cottage, and Beachfront. Mission and Shaker designs feature simple square designs; other styles have much more curve and ornamentation, such as Queen Anne and Bunker Hill. Styles will vary from area to area; however, most furniture is made by Amish woodworkers from the Lancaster and Indiana communities. With each woodworker adding his own individual touch to his furniture, each finished piece is unlike any other.

Whatever room you need to furnish—bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room, or home office—there are a wide variety of Amish pieces to choose from. The most popular items tend to be beds, dressers, and dining room tables. A matching set in any room will complete a distinctive room décor. More unique pieces include heirloom-quality baby cribs and rocking chairs. The newest trend in Amish pieces is durable outdoor furniture for your patio or deck. Whatever your needs, there is definitely something for everyone.

Although the Amish maintain their principles and remain free from electricity, they do take advantage of diesel generators to power pneumatic or hydraulic tools to mill and construct their fine furniture pieces. The use of these generators doesn’t contradict Amish belief systems, because they remain in Amish control whereas electricity is supplied and controlled by the outside world. Furthermore, they allow more time for the final finish detail work to be done by hand. This also gives a craftsman more time to handpick each piece of wood so that the colors and wood grains work together to create and eye-pleasing effect. After an older son finishes his formal classroom schooling, his father will then train him in all the intricacies of woodworking, and so the expertise passes from generation to generation.

In years past, you could only find Amish furniture in antique shops and local stores. But today many of these shops are online and thus Amish furniture has become accessible to the world. “English” intermediate businessmen either buy directly from the Amish or work with them to establish and manage an online storefront.