by 12 people |
Making Amish Furniture
Amish Furniture has a wide range of important construction methods, all of which affect the quality of your pieces. Many of these Amish methods have been imitated (simulated) by mass production and cheap imported pieces, but looks don't tell the whole story. If these construction methods are merely simulated, but haven't been actually used, your furniture won't last long.
Not so with the Amish. Nothing is faked with their work, nothing simulated. They adhere very closely to the furniture building traditions they inherited from their forebears, and they bring it to you in their work. It is almost impossible to get this kind of quality in any store or from any import anymore.
The Amish have special certified stains. Specialty finishes have been developed, and will soon be offered here.
To see the table collection click Amish Tables
Specific tables: Abbie's Special Carlisle Shaker Hill Tuscany West Village
The order of the information below is: First section: Shapes & Tops. Second section: edging. Third section: hardware. Fourth section: skirting and leaves. Fifth section: construction & assembly. Sixth: legs and feet. Seventh: Pedestals & bases.
Be sure to let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions!
Customer Letter
A client wrote to us: "Thank you so much for our beautiful maple table with chairs and benches. We are so happy to have it- it is like a wonderful piece of art. May the Lord continue to bless the works of your hands! Sincerely Mr. & Mrs. Millar, Sonoma, California." 10/18/06 Shapes & Details
The shape, details and substance of your tabletop is critical to the overall look. The edging, skirting, base or legs, and construction details all are determined by the shape and size of the top and the configuration it needs for the leaves. In this section you will see several table top styles- round, square, oval, square round, rectangular, scalloped, boat shaped.The Lexington, pictured here, has a boat shaped top and chamfered notched knee legs.
Rectangular Tops
A true rectangle top has the greatest seating capacity in a long version table. When you are attempting to seat as many people as space will allow, trimmed corners of any type will cost a few inches of table space at each end.For larger groups, homeschoolers, or large families where space is at a premium, a rectangular table, even with rounded edges, is an excellent choice.
This table, the Leg Mission, is pictured in naturally finished Oak. It has a straight skirt and 3" x 3" legs, and can have a large number of leaves. Matching chairs are shown in the Amish Chairs lense.
Trestle Top
Trestle tops indicate that the tabletop moves to open for leaves, and the base stays stationary. This factor determines the full length of the table when all the leaves are put in, because extra support is needed if the trestle opens too far. In the case of an extra-long trestle top, usually a good Amish craftsman will include drop legs that come down when the trestle is opened far enough, and those drop legs are recessed so they don't interfere with seating.Our Amish craftsmen use geared slide mechanisms (see hardware section below) which allow the table to be opened and closed by ONE person.
A trestle top table can be made extremely long, provided enough support is available.
As you will see, a tabletop of any shape can be a trestle.
Long Plank Top
Most table tops are made with wood that lays across the short end of the table. A long plank top lays the planks lengthwise, and usually uses wider pieces of lumber for the tabletop than regular sideways designs.A preferred method of assembling a long plank top is to use tongue and groove, which virtually eliminates any potential for the normal processes of wood that lead to some warping. The tongue and groove method compensates for the long planks, which would otherwise be more likely to warp than the regular sideways planks.
It is a beautiful look, since the special effects of the original tree are more obvious on wider and longer pieces of wood.
The Hideaway table, pictured here in maple, has leaves that pop out of the ends. This table is a narrow 36" wide, and 6 feet long. The special grain effects of the long planks show extremely well on this tabletop.
Round Top
Round tops, depending on the wood, finish, and the rest of the table, can be very casual or very elegant; very traditional or very modern. When leaves are inserted it, of course, becomes an oval top. Some tops, like beveled glass, have no leaf options at all.Usually a round top requires a steam bent skirt, which creates a perfect circle to support the tabletop. The trestle movement of a round top is done with a geared extension slide, so it requires only one person to open and close. Usually a round top table has little space for leaf storage.
The table pictured is the round plain potbelly pedestal. The pedestal is also available fluted.
Square Round Tabletops
Square round tops are a softer tabletop than a straight squared off rectangle. Often preferred in more formal settings. Square round corners are usually available in several different sized radial cuts- from the 8" radius, 6", 4" or even a 2", depending on the seating space you wish to save, and the degree of formality you choose.The square round table pictured is called the Princeton, shown in dark finished cherry.
Square Tables
Square tables are very happily used by many families, because they give a direct access to one another without a 'long reach' that is characteristic of a rectangular table.This particular table, (pictured) built by an Amish craftsman for his family, is 5 feet square. With 2 20 inch leaves, fully opened it is 100 inches long by 60 inches wide! See it in the workshop, being built here: Hudson
This table, because it is such a wide square, has double wooden extension slides. Because of that, it can go much farther before it needs additional support legs. This very large table can be built to extend to almost any length.
This Amish family like the table very much, because they are more face to face in an intimate setting at meals.
Oval Tabletops
Traditionalists really love oval tabletops, and people with small children do too. There are no sharp corners to bang small heads against, and the oval shape is extremely elegant. Often an oval table will have a bevel or ogee edge, both a dramatic finishing touch for such a top. The Queen Anne Oval, pictured, has a very beautiful bevel edge. Steam Cut Corners
Boat shaped tops are becoming a new classic among interior decorators and architects. To obtain the boat shape is not as easy as you might think. The Amish craftsmen tell me that to get perfect angles, as required for table tops and buffets and other pieces as well, requires steam treating the piece prior to the cut.Such a cut on a table doesn't reduce the table space, and guests are still comfortably seated at the table. It does have the effect of slightly turning everyone toward the center, cozying up the atmosphere just a little, and clients have reported how very nice such a top can be in a gathering.
This particular table, the Shaker Hill, begins with a rectangular top (72" long) and the boat cuts are taken from there. When leaves are added, the center straight line is lengthened, and the table is then 10 feet long, with the boat cuts on the very ends.
Boat Top, Steam Cut
This boat top (Pinnacle Royal) starts out as a 48" square. It would remain square, except for the steam cut boat shape. With a maximum of three leaves, the table top becomes a boat rectangle of 7 feet long. For smaller areas with infrequent use of the extra leaves, this is a comfortable shape. The boat cuts make this tabletop as easy to get around as a round one, but with a snazzier shape. Steam Scalloped Top
Fancy Rectangular Top
The scalloped tops in certain table styles are usually edged either with a bevel or an ogee edge. Scalloped tops are often steamed for cutting, due to the oppositional grain cutting.The scalloped style is used by Amish craftsmen in both traditional pieces, such as the rectangular Queen Anne, or in French Country styles as in the Richland, or in the Farm style tables as in the Heartland.
The scalloped top gives you all the table space of a regular straight sided rectangular tabletop, but with a drama and style that is easy to live with.
This Richland table (pictured) is done with French Country legs. It has a specialty finish with gorgeous distressing, in an almost sunset color. It would be easy to see this in a Western Ranch setting as well as something more formal.
Porcelained Metal Top
This canning table is a real tradition! It used to be that almost every home had one, because almost every home canned their own vegetables, made their own pickles, and rolled their own pie crusts. The porcelainized metal top is perfect for such uses, but it is also great for potting plants, crafting, and so many things. The Amish craftsmen remember these tables, indeed, they never stopped making or using them. The metal top is the best and most durable one they can find, and they use a full extension drawer, turned legs and a glass knob. Walnut Inlay
The Amish, being plain and simple people, don't often do inlays. When they do, they are a simple point of beauty, done in dark walnut. Several of these tabletops, occasional tables, mirrors, chairs, and related pieces use a diamond or bow tie shaped walnut inlay. The walnut is dark enough that the inlay will show through all but the darkest of stains. Mission Clipped Corner
The Amish have a sort of spiritual connection with the genuine Mission designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and other early mission architects and designers. One of the features they love and do well is the corner treatments of many of their pieces. You can easily find clipped corners, a genuine mission detail, on a wide variety of Amish furniture pieces. The corner clips can be 2", 4", 6" or 8" corner clips. Whatever edge is used, in this case a mission edge, it is a very distinctive look without being fussy. Protruding Cut Corner
Another interesting and beautiful mission corner treatment is the protruding corner cut. Arrow like cuts at each corner, finished with a mission edge. Parker Mission furnishings (beds, tables, dressers, night stands, and so forth) have this design feature.Shown in Quarter sawn oak with Michael's Cherry Amish stain.
Turned Leg Dropleaf Opening
Drop leaf tabletops are directly dependent on the leaves,which is why they are in this section. The main base of the tables, in this case, turned leg base, remains while there is an inner leg that swings like a gate. The tabletop for the turned leg gateleg table becomes oval when the entire table is opened, but a half-oval when only one leaf is raised. Squared off leaves are an option, which makes the table a rectangle whenever it is opened. The turned legs are in a farm style, traditional in every way. Edging
The edging is often determined by the style- traditional, contemporary, Queen Anne, but it is critical to the beauty and 'polish' of the table. These edges are used in all types of Amish furniture, whether bookshelves, occasional tables, clocks, mirrors or cabinets. We have pictured the mission edge, in quarter sawn oak, with Michael's Cherry finish. Bevel Edge
The bevel edge gives a clean finish to any tabletop, especially ones that are improved with such an enhancement. At the upper right corner of picture, you can see a slant, which is a bevel of 1" around. The oval Queen Anne table uses this bevel and it adds an Amish interpretation of elegance that is impressive to those who have one. A tailored and clean edge. Ogee Edge
An ogee edge is often seen on traditional pieces, such as Queen Anne or French Country type furnishings. It is a fancy and beautiful edge that is frequently used by the Amish on occasional tables, buffets and hutches, and dining room tables. It is not used on chairs. Inverted Bevel Edge
An inverted bevel is a surprisingly good edge. While you might think it isn't seen, since it is underneath, it actually adds a depth to the quality of the piece. This edge is also beautifully used on mission shelves, mirrors, coat hook wall pieces, and occasional tables. Chamfer Edge
Edges are like the accessories on your clothes: the right accessory and the look is perfect. The edge on your furniture pieces works the same way. For a strong or rugged piece, a chamfer edge is exactly the type of edge that shows that image. The chamfer is a curved cut in a mission edge, a strong and rugged look. Mission Edge
The straight up mission edge is popular on all types of furniture pieces. This edge is straight up, yes, but not sharp, because it has a very, very tiny bevel cut into the topmost corner. You can see thatif you look closely at the picture. Sanding the edge too heavily would round the edge too much and make it an uneven edge. So the tiny bevel keeps the look true, and a proper finish sanding keeps the lines straight and clean. Mission Drop Leaf Inner Edge
The joining edges of drop leaves are an ogee and a reverse ogee that meet. The craftsman who makes most of these tables is so skilled at finishing that when leaves are inserted into a table, or in this case, lifted to form the tabletop, the seams DISAPPEAR and the table looks like one solid top. In part the edges are responsible for such a wonderful feature. Perfectly fitting edges, joints and abutments are another hallmark of quality Amish wood craftsmanship. Roundover Edge
The roundover edge feels very good when you run your hand over it. It is a popular edge, especially in places where there are kids. Round tables with roundover edges make a beautiful, soft line. Country styles of all types of Amish furnishings and accessories often use this edge. Contemporary Edge
Contemporary furnishings rely on details to distinguish them from just plain pieces. This contemporary edge is ONLY found on contemporary pieces of furniture. It is a two-stepped edge, with a tailored rout all around, and a rounded top edge. Hardware
The hardware serves a greater purpose than making a piece of furniture look beautiful. Most furniture, especially tables, get a great deal of use. The Amish craftsmen use the best hardware, most durable hardware, that can be found. Trestle tops open by only one person with geared extension slides. Wooden extension slides move and age with the wood and keep the entire piece stable. Drawers have full extension slides so you get the most out of your drawers. Latches, hinges, door and drawer pulls all take hard use and must be durable as well as beautiful.Pictured here is the Farmer Table drawer, with the full extension slides.
Brass Safety Latch
Certain furniture pieces are so heavy, such as pedestals, that securing certain openings or support pieces can be an important part of comfort and use. In cases like this, Amish craftsmen are very meticulous to find hardware that is sufficiently strong for its task. Normally, market hardware is only engineered to last a year or two, so that replacement is virtually guaranteed. The Amish aren't satisfied with that 'marketing engineering' approach, or what we would call 'planned obsolescence.' The Amish seek out or even build themselves, the strongest and best hardware possible. Geared Extension Slides
Most tables in stores or that are imported have cheap extension slides that require 2 (or even 4) people to open them. The Amish are aware that usually it is one person alone who needs to open a table and put in the leaves. For this reason, they have hardwood and metal geared extension slides in every table that can accept them. Geared extension slides divide the stress of opening a heavy tabletop between the two ends at the same time, and with one smooth motion, pulling at one end duplicates the pull at the other end. Only one person is needed to open and close the table. Amish trestle top tables use geared extension slides. Wooden Extension Slides
The Amish use hardwood extension slides for their leg tables. It might seem that geared slides would also be desireable in leg tables, but for the geared slides to work properly, the base must remain stationary. The legs of a table move with the tabletop, and create drag when being opened. It is also the leg tables that can accomodate many leaves, and because the leaves are heavy, the Amish center extra support legs along the wooden extension slides. This keeps the extra legs recessed, so they don't interfere with seating around the sides of the table, and provides the support exactly where the leaves need it the most. The wooden extension slides provide extra strength and stability to leg tables. Leveler
The Amish take meticulous care to insure their tables are perfectly level, both on top and on the bottom. Not all floors are perfectly level, however, and no matter how perfect the craftsmanship, an uneven floor will make the table rock. The craftsmen install levelers to ensure your table can always be straight and secure on a floor that may have some serious differences in its level and straightness. This improves the comfort and use of the table very much. Carlisle Brushed Nickel Table Accent
Modern pieces are an opportunity for some unusual but beautiful hardware decorative pieces. This brushed nickel accent piece is strong to hold up a very heavy glass table top. Because it is brushed, it won't show much in the way of fingerprints or dust. It is easy to clean, and is the next wave of modernity in furnishings. You'll probably be ahead of your time with this type of accent. Brushed Nickel Toe Caps
The Vintage table has a mortise and tenon base, and for sheer art deco elegance, it has the brushed nickel toe caps. The Lexington table has brushed nickel leg caps. The brushed nickel doesn't show the kind of wear or dust that polished nickel or silver would, but gives a bright elegance that is not only ahead of its time, but also very retro.The caps reduce the wear on the base, legs and feet, and in the event they get damaged, are easily replaceable.
Drop Leaf Hinges
The round drop leaf table has two smaller leaves that require some sort of support when in use. With 1" thick leaves, and the likelihood of food and dishes being put on the leaf, the support must be very strong. The Amish craftsmen test their drop leaf supports for that strength and durability that they require, and reject any hardware that doesn't survive heavy use tests. Mission Hardware
On all mission pieces that are Amish made, and there are lots of them (see: Amish Wood Products) the true mission look requires true mission hardware, rugged, strong, and with an art deco/prairie styling. From pyramid knobs to drawer pulls as pictured here, the hardware the Amish select and use is simply the best. Full Extension Drawers
The Amish are practical people and waste NOTHING, even drawer space. They themselves were dissatisfied with drawers that don't fully open. They include in their furniture, as a matter of standard, full extension drawers so you can better use your precious space. Wooden Handles & Knobs
Some styles simply look and feel better with hardwood knobs and handles. These are turned by Amish craftsmen from the same lot of wood used to build the piece that requires handles and knobs, so they will match perfectly. Mission Base Stabilizer
Heavy use furniture, especially in restaurants and bars, may require extra stabilization. While the furniture is so well made that it is hardly conceivable that it needs extra support, the Amish are practical and common sense people. If there is an opportunity to provide extra stabilization, such as the bottom intersection of this Craftsman Mission table, they will put it there. Integrated Hardware Covers
Cheaply manufactured or imported furniture also frequently needs to cover the necessary hardware, but they use the cheapest possible solutions they can find. Were they to need to cover this spreader bar, they would use a brown plastic molded cover.The Amish, however, make their own hardware covers from the same wood used to build the furniture piece, stain and finish it to match exactly. It is an integral part, both design and materials wise, to the overall piece of furniture.
Skirting
Skirts, or aprons, hide the table mechanisms and attachments, and dress out the table. They come in several styles. Here you will see straight skirts, angled skirts, reeded skirts, scalloped skirts and steam-bent skirts.Leaves for the tables can come either with or without the skirts. It is important to decide whether you want self storing leaves, because that will determine whether your leaves have skirts or not. Skirts are a very inexpensive addition, so your preferences make little difference financially. However, most people have strong preferences about the overall look of the table, and whether the leaves have skirts or not makes an enormous difference.
The Princeton table pictured here has a straight skirt, steam-bent to the square-round shape.
Scalloped Skirt
The scalloped skirt, as you see pictured here, is an often overlooked design feature, that can add some real class or flair to a table. The Amish consider this feature to be an important part of the overall quality of any skirted table they make. The scallops are a traditional design feature for many styles, and have made traditional but all too plain styles have more pizzazz. Steam Bent Skirt
The Amish use the difficult and exacting process of steam bending, because it makes the sturdiest and most reliable skirting and shaped pieces available. Steam bending, whether for round, curved, square round, or slatting, keeps the entire grainline of the wood intact, which keeps its natural strength intact. It reduces reliance on cutting, sawing and glues. Leaf Storage
Pictured you can see two leaves self-stored in a trestle top table. This table will hold two more leaves, stacked on top of the two in there already, but only if the leaves are without skirts. If you look carefully at the picture, you can see how the skirting opens along with the rest of the tabletop, and the gap in the skirting. Unskirted leaves will leave the gap in the skirt as you see it here, but since the leaves are tabletop pieces, it isn't noticeable to anyone seated at the table. It is from a distance, when you look at the side of the table, that you would see a gap in the skirt.The convenience of self-storing leaves is a very important factor when considering whether you want all your leaves skirted, or if you can leave two of them unskirted to store them all.
Angled Skirt
Frank Lloyd Wright famously decorated his houses with oriental style art & merchandise. This particular skirt is angled in an asian manner, with a bevel edge and an angled mission base. A transitional design from mission to modern, and we have placed these in the offices and work spaces of architects in California. Reeded Skirt
Reeding on a skirt is an unusual and dramatic way to enhance a straightforward table. It is shown naturally finished hickory with a straight edge skirt. Reeding is an excellent way to get at the depth of the woodgrain, as fluting does. Block Leg Corner, Rounded Table Corner & Arched Skirt
Traditional, homey and warm look
A roundover edge is popular with families with small children, or in tighter spaces where it is possible one could bump a sharper corner of a table. With the block leg attachment and an arched skirt, the country and comfortable look is very beautiful and fits in most kitchen or dining room decors. Here you see our Leg Table, with turned legs shown in red oak. Wood Types, Stains, and Furniture Care
Slowly building Modules in Squidoo
While you can get a good luck at the various wood types the Amish use in their furniture from these pictures, and the construction techniques, you may still want more information about wood, about stains and finishes, and about caring for your furniture. The chair module is also being built, but you can look at most of the chair selection and get an idea of pricing there right now. Thanks for your patience!I have three lenses being built to help you with that information.
Click here for the wood types: Wood Types
You can see the finish options here: Amish Certified Wood Stains
Caring for your furniture click here: Table Care
See the sets here: Amish Dining Room Sets
Matching chairs here: Amish Dining Chairs
Construction & Assembly Details
The Amish use time-honored and traditional superior construction methods. While technology and lighter products (like plastics and aluminum) can make furniture lighter, no matter what materials used, the construction and assembly is one of the main things that determine the beauty and strength of the furniture. Time honored methods have proven themselves over time (look how many beautiful antiques there are the world over!)Profit driven manufacturing methods cut corners on all of these things, from the drying methods of the wood used, to the simulation of look of good construction without actually using it; to cheap hardware with a 1 year expected life span. The Amish reject all of these 'innovations' and in order to care for you and your family the best, use the proven methods of furniture construction, from dovetail joints to superior mortise and tenon construction.
Mission Mortise & Tenon Base
Superior wood crafting and assembly
Here you see the base assembly for the Royal Mission table, but it also is the assembly method for mission slatting bases of all types. Each slat is carefully cut out so it matches an opening in the base. While the Royal Mission base pieces are steam bent for a graceful curve, proper fitting of these pieces is critical to the strength and longevity of any mortise and tenon assembled table, whether straight, steam bent or flat. In Line Leg Assembly
Unmatched quality
In this picture and the one below, you can see the in-line leg assembly structure from underneath and from the outside. Proper in-line assembly strengthens both the legs and the skirt, and provides additional structural integrity for the tabletop.This feature is easy to cheapen, and easy to imitate, which usually happens in mass produced furniture or imported furniture. Those pieces won't last for very long, because to imitate this assembly with cheap processes and improperly finished wood means that natural wood processes will loosen this assembly.
Amish craftsmen hold to a very high degree of quality, in the wood they select for your table, in the processes the wood goes through in its drying, and in the quality of the hardware in the assembly.
In Line Leg Construction (Oval or Round Skirt)
From the outside, you can see how beautiful and elegant a properly crafted in-line leg assembly is. It gives extra support on four sides for the entire table. Every part of an Amish table is finished, including the leg assembly and even the underside of the tabletop.Using the finest of finishing processes, an Amish piece of furniture will last beautifully for generations.
Raised Panel with Rope Molding
Raised panels are a very popular form of furniture and cabinet design. Proper raised panels can come with mitered corners, straight corners, and even flush panels with inner detailing. Here, the craftsman has enhanced the raised panels with rope molding, a distinctive and even western type style. Raised panels are often used as kitchen cabinet doors, and in jewelry armoires. Raised panel designs on a single piece of furniture must carefully be matched, both in form and in size, with properly processed hardwoods to prevent gaping, splitting or cracking around joints.Amish processed American hardwoods are carefully dried and graded to ensure you have the best possible, sustainable wood in your raised panel pieces.
Westlake
Superior Joints
Stunning Look, Perfection Required!
Here is an excellent example of the superior mortise and tenon joinery in an Amish table.The opening through which the spreader bar must go through, and protrude so beautifully, is an EXACTING process. Perfect fit is absolutely required for a strong table.
Yet this feature is easily imitated in imported and mass produced furniture, sloppy workmanship requires cheap glues to keep these pieces together. You can tell right away if you move the tabletop. Any motion at all indicates to you that the manufacturer hasn't used true superior joinery, and this table won't last long.
What is amazing about the high quality of this craftsman's construction is that the pieces that protrude are beautifully finished in the same high quality as the rest of the furniture. His work is so beautiful that it isn't necessary to apply fillers, paints or other techniques to hide an ugly detail.
Solid wood construction, right down to the smallest detail, makes Amish furniture superior yet affordable.
Corner Block
True corner blocks are such a secure way to strengthen tabletops, enhance table legs, keep skirts perfectly squared and add a tailored beauty at the same time.While round, oval, or square-round leg tables are best with in-line leg placement, rectangular or square tables require a corner block placement for quality.
In order for there to be no skew in the straightness and turn of the table skirt, a solidly placed corner block is essential.
Block Queen Anne Leg (Square or Rectangle Skirt)
A true craftsman is able to take a leg, like the Queen Anne Leg, and make it so that it serves also as a stabilizing corner block without compromising any of its beauty.For the rectangular or square tables with dramatically turned or carved legs, a block leg enhances the elegance of design while stabilizing the entire table.
Such a process with the legs prevents loosening or skewing of the skirt, strengthens the tabletop, and supports the table at the same time.
Inner Leg Brace
Additional support for the legs and skirt of a table is provided by an inner leg brace.Fitting within the skirt design, as in the case of an arched or scalloped skirt as shown in the picture, the block leg is further strengthened with a brace built with super sturdy hardware.
Mission Corbel & Slatting
Amish mission furniture is famous for its massive strength and structure.Amish craftsmen make good and practical use of mission corbels, placing them not only for design purposes, but also for strengthening and design reasons.
In this picture you can see the superior mortise and tenon slatting, a supported corner block skirt, mission base legs, and the mission corbels that provide great support for the tabletop, whether trestle or solid.
Leg Corbel
A mission style leg table is much more than simply straight legs.The Amish craftsmen usually use 3x3 or even 4x4 inch legs for their mission pieces, and support mission corbels are a design enhancement as well as strengthen the inch thick tabletop.
Square Round Corner Block
Usually its the small details that make a huge difference, and even determine whether a piece is suitable for people like architects and interior designers to use.As you can see in the picture, the Amish craftsman has made the corner block to closely correspond to the overall design of this table. The curve in the block not only echoes the cylindrical pedestal base, but also the roundover edge of the tabletop. The direction of the grain in the woodblock is in the same direction as the grain of the base, not the skirt, which enhances the movement of the eye along the grain of the pedestals, up the side and onto the gorgeous tabletop.
Nothing is overlooked by this craftsman!
Legs and Feet
Amish tables are heavy tables, and so is the rest of the furniture they make. Good, solid and beautiful legs are one of the hallmarks of Amish construction.Each piece is hand-turned or shaped, and fits precisely with the rest of the furniture piece. Legs and feet are designed with the styles in mind, so the Queen Anne legs are true to the traditional style; French Country or Farm Legs are true to those traditions, and so forth.
Pictured here is the rope-turned leg of the Hudson table. This particular leg, like the fluted and other turned type pieces, deepens the face of the grain that you can see, and shines light into the grain in a special way.
Such care with the wood and grain enriches the look of your furniture, enhancing the overall quality and making it appear to be a far more expensive piece than the Amish actually ask for them.
Steam Bent Shaker Leg
Steam bending is a slow but necessary process for a curved leg design.While most mass produced furniture simply cuts the curve out of a larger piece of wood, that method means that as the weight of the table presses down on the leg, sooner or later the grain will split at a critical point.
Our Amish craftsmen go out of their way to ensure their legs and bases are as strong and reliable as possible. Steam bending a straight-grain means there is no break in the grain to succumb under the pressure of a heavy tabletop.
The straight and strong grain is gracefully curved by steam bending, which keeps the structure and integrity of the wood intact.
Shaker Hill
Notched Knee Leg
The massive nature of the legs made by our Amish craftsmen give them additional design possibilities without compromising the strength and integrity of the natural wood that they love so dearly.In this picture, you can see that the craftsman has designed notched knees, which while beautiful and unusual in its design, keeps sufficient strength and mass of the wood leg intact.
Claw Feet
The claw feet used by the Amish are almost unbelieveable. If you put your hand into a big fist, the claw foot is LARGER!Each foot is meticulously shaped, and the claws are carved out by hand.
If you ever thought to yourself, "someday I want a piece of furniture with claw feet", be sure to seriously consider the ones the Amish make.
Their claw feet add a massive dignity and a lot of strength to any piece of furniture.
Fluted Leg
There are a lot of people who love good fluting when they can get it.As you can see in the picture, the carved out fluting in Amish furniture carries along the upward/downward motion of the natural grain line.
When such fluting is highly polished and finely finished, it has the effect of highlighting and enriching the grain of the wood.
Different types of wood have different grains, all of which are affected by perfect and meticulous fluting.
Cherry and maple have long, elegant and wispy grains that shine with an inner light when fluted.
Oak has a more prominent grain which, when fluted, exposes more of the depth of it. This deeper grain exposure picks up the stain and brings out some very extraordinary colorations, some gold, some green, some red for example, that makes the oak seem alive with an inner, joyful glow.
Turned Leg Options
Wood turning is a very ancient art in furniture making. It is done with extremely sharp knives, and even with the highest technology manufacturing can offer, is extremely difficult to get perfect. This is due to the natural differences in wood types, and even in pieces of the same types of wood.Our craftsmen are very particular about the perfection of the turnings they use.
They adhere to the most beautiful leg turning styles, some very ancient, such as the Tuscany leg.
Other legs are not turned, but shaved and steam bent, but again, differences in wood make it necessary to be careful and meticulous about the wood choices that are made, the drying processes that are used, and the perfect shaping of each piece.
More Leg Options
Some legs are particularly massive, as you can see in the comparison of this set of turned leg options. The rope turned leg in the center of the picture, is made out of 5x5 inch pieces. While the others look slimmer, it is only by comparison, because each of these legs are also massive. Depending on the style of the piece, some legs are 3x3, others 4x4.All of them, though, correspond to the best and most cherished designs and contribute overall to the heirloom quality of Amish furniture pieces.
Splay Legs
Splay legs are a particulary famous Shaker style of leg, and you can see it on a wide variety of Amish furniture, from clock feet, to occasional tables, to beds.The straight leg is steam bent to outwardly splay the leg for a clean and open look. The grain is never compromised by steam bending, and so, even though it is light and breezy leg style, it keeps its strength and integrity through many, many years of use.
Chamfer Cut Out Leg
Chamfering is a particular cutting out, which is an important design feature.It can be, as shown here, an assembly which creates an opening, or as below, a cutting away of a particular corner edge to create depth.
In this table, the Parker Mission, and the other furniture that is this style, like the bedroom furniture, the massive size of the legs would overwhelm any room or other pieces.
That massiveness is eased by the open design with which the legs are built and assembled, so that while the overall size of the leg is the same, there isn't the sense of being overwhelmed by it.
That open look is often reflected in other architectural details in a home or business, such as mullioned windows, chair backs, or wall decor pieces. Frank Lloyd Wright made extensive use of chamfering and cut-outs in his work. It adds a distinctive look to a very dramatic line of true mission furniture.
Prairie Fancy Turned Leg
Plain prairie folks have historically lived plain lives, but when they could get beauty they made it a useful one.The prairie turned leg isn't as fancy as old-world Baroque, but it certainly made the homestead table a very lovely piece that a family could own with pride.
This massive leg begins as a 5x5 inch piece of solid wood, which enables deep cutting and turning. The Heartland table that uses this style of leg has a scalloped top and skirt, with a beveled edge.
Chamfered Legs
The mission chamfering on this base is a cutting out of a part of the outer corner on truly massive square mission legs.The chamfering of this leg style improves the look of the beautiful slatting in the mission base. It has the effect of drawing out the depth of the grain and when finely finished, adds light to the depth of the wood.
Pedestals & Bases
Generally, the pedestal or base stays stationary while the top of the table itself moves to accomodate leaves. They come in many styles with many features.There are few pedestals that can accomodate over 4 leaves, unless you have a table specially built with additional pedestals to support the extra size. The split pedestal extension table can accept up to 13 leaves without additional support.
Pictured here is a conference table with three pedestals that opens to 24 feet long. Closed, it measures 12 feet.
Plain Sheaf Rail
The sheaf style is beloved by so many Americans, and believe it or not, is widely used in homes and restaurants in France!The sheaf is made up of steam bent dowels, perfectly spaced and installed in mortise and tenon style.
It is used in many classic Amish furniture pieces, chairs, bases, children's high chairs.
Tapered Pedestal with Splayed Feet
Mission style is dedicated to showing off the natural grains of particular wood styles, especially quarter sawn oak as shown in the picture.The tapered mission pedestal is quite plain and strong, almost the entire point being to show the strength and beauty of wood.
Such a massive pedestal wouldn't 'need' anything to be seated on if support of the table were the only purpose. However, this craftsman made a splayed out base on which to put these pedestals, reinforcing the massiveness of true Mission design.
Plain Spindle Rail
Spindles are also turned, like legs, but are much smaller and used in design details such as this plain base. These spindles are built into the spreader bar in a mortise and tenon style insertion.Spindles are an extremely popular design feature, and can be found in all types of furniture pieces, from occasional tables, to bedroom furniture, clocks, mirrors, shelves.
Shaker Base Mortise & Tenon
Heavy Shaker legs also require extremely careful construction methods to ensure the furniture piece lasts for generations.In this picture, you can see the mortise and tenon assembly of a very massive pedestal base into a set of Shaker legs. Carlisle
Fluted Pedestal Fluted Spindle
This plain spreader bar is dressed up and enhanced not only by turned spindles, which they are, but also the fluting that has been done on the pedestals themselves and the turned spindles.Underneath a large tabletop, like this one shown, it sometimes seems a bit dark underneath. The fluting, however, catches the light, brightens the wood, and flaunts the beautiful grain.
Highly polished superfine finish makes the light reflect underneath and gives a lightness to the oak.
Darker woods, like cherry, seem to refract the light on their fluting to a warm and satisfying red tone.
Tapered Mission Pedestal
Special mission bar feet add strength and support to this tall tapered pedestal and the massive tabletop it holds.The tapered base is made of plain planks, in the mission style, in order to show off the natural beauty of the hardwood grain.
Shaker Footed Hourglass Pedestal
The Shaker footed pedestal is an old world Dutch style pedestal, hourglass shaped, with a tailored carved 'pinstripe' around the center.This is a clean look, reminiscent of Danish styling, excellent for kitchens or modern environments.
Cylindrical Pedestal & Scroll Feet
Cylindrical pedestals hail back to the early days of America, favorites of the likes of Ben Franklin and John Adams.The cylindrical pedestals give a 360 degree view of the natural grain lines, with the light enhancing the curvature.
Those curves are supported by scroll feet, specially cut and assembled to support the weight of the table.
Curvaceous woodcuts show woodgrain in such a way as to bring elegance to plain wood. This type of table style is suitable for political offices, law offices and formal homes.
Octagonal Pear Pedestal with Scroll Feet
Another Americana design, favored by our forefathers in the earliest times of our American history.This particular pedestal is tongue in groove in an octagonal shape, with a pear-curve to the base and massive scroll feet. In any piece of furniture this type of base is used, it has so many surfaces and curves to show off the beauty of the natural woodgrain, but still is simple in its design.
Fluted Round Pedestal
The perfectly round centerpiece of this pedestal is traditionally known as a 'potbelly.'Shown here, the usually smooth potbelly is actually fluted, and seen in person, does amazing things to the depth and beauty of the grain.
This identical piece is also built without fluting, which is a bright and clear look at the wood.
This is a popular pedestal for country homes, restaurants and other places that like a light, bright piece.
Turned Leg Gateleg Base
While this particular pedestal is clearly made with turned 'legs', it is assembled with heavy skirting style slats into a stationary pedestal.This stationary pedestal is the basis for a homey, country style drop leaf table, and provides the stability and strength to support heavy leaves, while still keeping a country leg look.
Pear Pedestal Base
The pear shape of this pedestal, as you can see from the picture, balances out the heft of the tabletop with the spread of the scroll footed base.This pedestal is exceptionally beautiful on dining tables, end tables and coffee tables.
It enhances wistful grain, like the grain of maple or cherry woods, and it carries more distinctive grains, like oak or quarter sawn oak, with elegance.
Footed Urn Pedestal
Formal styles have a particularly rich look, that Grecian urns are known for.Urn style pedestals are suitable especially for custom tables and conference tables, as they supply sufficient support at longer intervals for extremely long tables.
The elegant steam bent feet are smooth and carry the lines of the Grecian urn style base.
Skirt Slat Base
This mission style trestle table carries its lines through with skirt slatting in the base. 3" wide skirting matches the 3" slats joined in the base by mortise and tenon construction methods. Mission Leg Pedestal Base
Another leg table that is a stationary base, this time with straight up 4" mission legs.The leaves open to increase the tabletop size up to 7 feet long, which requires massive legs.
The extra leg on each side of the table is basically a gate, which swings open to support the drop leaf, with wooden stops and guides to keep things stable and perfect.
An excellent style of table if you need a truly flexible option on table sizing.
Central Pillar inner Pedestal
Large Extension pedestal tables really need extra support when you get over a certain number of leaves. In the case of people who need a smaller table, with a smaller footprint most of the time, but for large gatherings, buffets, parties, conferences want to be able to easily enlarge the table a great deal, a split pedestal with a heavy central pillar is an extraordinary design.The outer pedestal, 12", actually splits open. It houses a solid 6 or 8" solid pedestal that stays stationary and supports the center of the table, while the split pedestal ends move out farther and farther to support the ends of the table, when leaves are put in.
Angled Mission Base
Frank Lloyd Wright favored an Eastern style of decor with his craftsman mission styling. This base is angled in a pagoda, eastern style.It shows very clearly an important construction point, as well. There are many trestle base style tables on the market, but not all of them have the spreader bar between the two pedestal ends as you see here.
Without a spreader bar, the only support the tabletop has is the hardware used to attach the base to the top. Sufficient weight or pressure on a table without the spreader bar will cause serious damage.
All of the high quality tables, espeically from the best Amish craftsmen, have sturdy and stable spreader bars which solidifies the base.
Fluted Cylinder Pedestal
A fluted cylindrical base is petite and beautiful, and is small enough that elegantly curved feet provide all the support it needs.It is a slim and narrow pedestal, but still very strong, and fits well with a smaller tabletop.
Contemporary Arched Pedestal
Contemporary styling is based mainly on the Danish furniture designs. In this case, you can see the sturdy curved pedestals and the arched placement of the wide legs.Rounded edges on all surfaces are one hallmark of true contemporary and modern Danish styling.
Mission Mortise & Tenon Pedestal Base
This classic mission base is widely popular with interior decorators, planners and architects. It is a construction that is perfect for a wide range of furniture pieces, such as pub tables, pedestal tables, conference tables, and occasionals. Plain Rail Pedestal
Plain rail pedestals are the classic country style of table, with a wide spreader bar, empire feet and plain pedestal bases.This plain style leaves lots of potential design options, such as sheaf, wheat, or spindle details on the base, fluting, cylindrical or round pedestals.
It makes a great neutral style table for heavy use situations, and the pedestals are excellent support pieces for extremely large conference or banquet tables.
Urn Pedestal with Curved Feet
Urns are not often considered 'modern' in the true sense of the word, but with the steam bent feet and soft matador black finish, fits right in with the most modern of decors. Amish Community Blog
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