Mission Style Furniture
A style of furniture known as Mission Style was popular in the United States in the beginning of 20th century.
With its origin in the late 19th century, Mission style design is originated from small furniture that has committed a huge revolution in the furniture industry. It was a chair constructed by A.J. Forbes in 1894. Defined by simple, straight and clean design along with the simplicity of natural materials, this chair’s design was led by Gustav Stickley and the Arts and Crafts movement.
The people were in search of relief after the luxuries of Victorian times and mass-manufactured furniture pieces during the Industrial Revolution. So this furniture style has taken its role.
The word “mission” takes its origin from the Spanish established various missions referring to the colonial California. A utilitarian style, it was deprived of refinement, this furniture was designed with a “mission” in mind. According to Gustav Stickley, perfect design should be functional and practical, while usage of simple materials underlines the man’s relation to nature.
The mission style furniture is usually constructed of oak wood with a distressed or stain finish. It features a simple and straight-line design with exposed carpentry. This design is often emphasized by flat panels accentuated by wood grain and horizontal & vertical lines.
Usually Mission Style furniture has no embellishment. The joinery features dark stains to accentuate the simple construction. Coverings are of simple upholsteries like plain fabric, cloth or leather, while fittings are constructed of iron or copper.
Furniture of Mission Style has the next features & peculiarities:
- straight and simple lines
- simplicity of the design and craftsmanship
- natural materials
- heavy and sturdy construction
- natural finish, sometimes with distressing
- medium or dark stains
- ordinary fabric or canvas upholsteries
- iron or copper hardware
- lack of ornamentation
Nowadays Mission Furniture becomes popular again. Small and large manufacturers take up the initiative and produce furniture that satisfied all the characteristics of Art & Craft movement. Made of high quality and solid materials, furniture of this style is durable and simple looking, as in the past. Even though a century has passed, the revival of mission furniture design is going strong!
