History of Amish-Made Furniture

Amish furniture is made and manufactured by the Amish communities in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. It is known for being made purely out of wood, using real, authentic wood. No particle board or laminates are used in making Amish furniture. The furniture is simple, clean, and graceful in appearance, and is made with traditional furniture-making techniques.

This type of furniture first became popular among non-Amish buyers in the 1920’s, when American folk art became popular. Especially popular at the time was folk art from the early period of America, which meant pre-Civil War. Because Amish furniture was still manufactured using those old techniques, it became prized because of both its style and its history.

While there are several different styles of Amish furniture, the one modern people most closely associate with Amish furniture was originated by Henry Lapp. Lapp was an Amish furniture maker in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and he opted to eschew elaborately painted pieces that other Amish people were making, in favor of a plainer style. Lapp’s style is undecorated, which makes it stand out from other styles of furniture. Our Amish furniture store today carries a large selection of pieces made in Lapp’s signature style

Technique and Amish Furniture

Amish forego modern technology, for the most part. Therefore, most of the tools they use in making their furniture use hydraulic and pneumatic power instead of electricity. Occasionally, Amish communities make allowances for some modern technology in their furniture making shops, especially if the furniture sales provide support for entire communities.

It is also the norm for the Amish to pay a lot of attention to detail in their furniture making. Every piece of wood used in a piece is selected by the individual craftsperson to match the type of furniture being built. The grain of the wood is matched up on pieces that are glued , to give the finished piece a uniform look. In general, Amish furniture is considered a “green” product, and the furniture makers intend each piece they make to last and be enjoyed for generations, both as art and as usable furniture.

Different Styles of Amish Furniture

While the Lapp style is the most common, there are other styles of Amish furniture. The Mission style is one of straight lines and joints that are exposed. Queen Anne style uses intricate moldings, interesting details on the feet, and carved ornamental designs.

There are also individual family styles. This is because Amish furniture making is a skill that is passed on from generation to generation. Amish children usually quit school after eighth grade, after which they help out on the farm or in the family Amish furniture shop. Certain families become known for their own unique style of building Amish furniture.

One thing that is common among all styles of Amish furniture is that no two pieces are alike. This is because the pieces are not mass-produced in a factory. Each piece is made by hand. This makes each piece of Amish furniture unique, and a work of art.

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