1. Blanket chests created in the Mission furniture style as
we know it today, derived design elements from the
furniture crafted from 1900 to 1916 in Grand Rapids,
New York by Gustav Stickley. One of his brothers and
also another furniture manufacturer did produce some
Mission furniture in their factories that are considered
heirloom pieces, but the main potion of heirloom quality
pieces were made by Gustav Stickley and company.
His furniture style was extremely simple and solid
looking and at the same time was graceful. This was in
complete contrast to the bulky, overly decorative, mass
produced factory furniture of the time period.
affordable furniture
2. This factory furniture was supposed to replicate the William and Mary furniture
style being produced in England Dark stain colors, poor quality craftsmanship
and overly done design elements predominated in the American furniture
factories Most furniture up until this point were replicas of the furniture styles
affordable furniture being produced in England and France
3. People, especially the affluent in society, had the idea that only European
furniture styles were worth owning The upper classes in America at this point
in time wanted to fit in with royalty social structure that predominated Europe
Stickley had the idea that furniture should be made to last, constructed with
enduring wood crafting principles
4. This heirloom quality furniture was to blend in with a families' decor and
was to last for generations Fine quality craftsmanship and beautiful design
elements were his furniture themes which would influence other craftsmen
The first piece of 'Mission' furniture was introduced at the
semiannual furniture exhibition in Grand Rapids
5. This was a clumsy, stick piece chair that the manufacturer said had been
found at one of the Franciscan Missions in California This was a rough hewn
looking chair made from Oak As a novelty item, this chair gained attention
6. The public liked the romance that this piece inspired and was ready to buy
available pieces even though it was poorly made Americans ,as always,
desired a product that was different and new This gave another clever
furniture manufacturer the idea to make a small line of chairs in this style which
included the addition of the Maltese Cross in its design element as a prominent
feature
7. This design feature was created in the chair back Some pieces that followed
also had this element in the seat This addition was supposed to help people
think that his chairs were actually crafted at the California Missions
8. He named this new line McHugh 'Mission' furniture Even though
McHugh was the originator of the name 'Mission' oak furniture, his
furniture pieces were poorly designed and poorly constructed Once the public
found out just how poor the construction was, his pieces did not sell for very
long
9. The Mission furniture style lost its foot hold in 1916 as an item of choice and
many of the manufacturers of this style were bankrupted, including Stickley
Even so, in years to follow, the Mission furniture designed and created mainly
by Gustav Stickely are the pieces that have endured to become highly sought
after heirloom furniture Great designs in wood crafting do endure
