This lense is intended to give you construction facts and information about how Mission style tables are constructed by the Amish craftsmen.
Mission style is a particularly American Furniture and Home style. The fact that it works well in so many types of architecture and decors is a testimony to it's inherent beauty. There are few styles that show off beautiful woodgrain so well, and its strong lines enhance any room.
The craftsman who builds these is fairly a genius with wood, with construction, with design. His mission tables are finished so finely that when the leaves are inserted, the tabletop still looks like one solid piece! He makes investment quality, genuine Amish tables. You simply can't make a mistake with these.
Not every craftsman makes tables to this standard. I hope that this enables you to understand the importance of certain techniques that when you make a furniture investment, you get your money's worth!
If you are interested in any of these hand built tables, custom tables, or conference tables, click on the blue links to see more information on Amish Mission Tables, Amish Dining Room Tables, Amish Furniture, or you can browse our complete selection of Amish Dining Room Chairs. To see complete matching sets follow this link : Amish Dining Room Sets.
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Quarter Sawn Oak
The premier wood used in true mission furniture is quarter sawn. The unusual and dramatic grain is achieved by a different cut of the log than regular cuts.The straightforward, strong design of mission furniture make a perfect showcase for quarter sawn, which is why it is highly favored by interior decorators and architects alike.
The stain shown on this piece of quarter sawn is called Michael's Cherry. It is a stain developed by the Amish to especially highlight the special grains of quarter sawn, and it really does enrichen the warm tones of oak. Most Amish homes have a great deal of wood in them, and most often Michael's Cherry is the stain they've used to finish it.
Aspen Table
The Aspen is a true mission style table, with a trestle top. It is available in Oak, Cherry or Quarter Sawn Oak. It has a mission edge, mortise and tenon joints. You can have this table in 42x72 or 48x72 with 4 leaves. It is also available with a solid top. Request a Quote & QuestionsZoom Pictures Aspen Table Hardware Cover Leg Edge Joints Open Side
Mortise and Tenon Legs
Massive Construction
Amish furniture is justly famous for its massiveness. Legs are usually built from 3x3, 4x4, and rarely even 5x5 lumber! Despite the massive size of the legs, superior mortise and tenon joints add more strength to the construction, prevent movement and warping, and add design details that enhance the look of the piece very, very much.The Aspen legs are full mortise and tenon, and so they compliment other pieces that use this particular feature, such as the McCoy bookcase Amish Shelves, mission magazine racks, occasional tables, and a selection of dining chairs.
Mission Slatting
Slatting is one of those design features that is almost exclusively mission. Some styles, like the Aspen Table, use 3" slats, whereas other mission furniture use steam-bent slats, 1" slats or other other variations.In any case, Amish made slatting is always mortise and tenon, as you see here, and it is one of the reasons that Amish built furniture is so much better than any other. Chinese-made or factory-made mission pieces use nails, staples and glue to keep their slats in place. To those manufacturers, the slats are nothing more than 'decorative' features that are expendable, and the slats are usually one of the first features of cheap furniture to deteriorate.
The Amish, on the other hand, use the slats as they were intended by the great architects, as essential construction elements that strengthen the overall piece.
Hardware
Hardware comes in all sizes, shapes and quality levels. Factory made furniture uses the least expensive hardware available, in order to maximize profits. Frequently you'll find that at important stress-points, the hardware used is just not strong enough. Manufacturers will use staples or wire nails, for example, in attaching a skirt- an important feature that adds strength and stability to the entire table.The Amish NEVER compromise on the quality of the hardware, because their commitment is to pieces that last for generations. Cheap hardware guarantees that you will be replacing your furniture in just a few years.
When the hardware doesn't add beauty to the overall piece, the craftsmen find elegant and inobtrusive solutions to cover necessary hardware, as you see here. These are finished with the same fine furniture finishing as the rest of the piece.
Proportion
Details that make the entire piece proportional are more than just height and length. For example, in this side shot, you can see that the mission slatting is exactly the same width as the legs, as the skirt, and as the spreader bar. The wooden hardware covers correspond to the protruding mortise and tenon joints. Whether your table is 42" wide, or 48" wide, the proportions are never sacrificed. Mission Edges
A true mission edge is a straight-up edge. It is not a 'sharp' edge like you often see on straight edged pieces (a good reason to avoid some furniture).The Amish craftsman adds a tiny bevel to every straight mission edge before sanding, which saves the straight lines of the mission style, but makes such an edge much more liveable and not sharp. This tiny bevel is on all outward edges and it really makes a difference in comfortable use.
Trestle Tops
A famous and well-loved tabletop is the trestle. Most mission tables have this style of tabletop. Solid top mission tables are very popular, and yet there are many people who need to add leaves on occasion to include extra guests at dinner.The trestle top opens and does all the moving- the base itself stays stationary. You've probably had to struggle, using two people to open a leaf table before. However, the Amish trestle uses a geared extension slide, which means that is easy to open for ONE PERSON- you pull on one end and both sides open at once! If your table has the self-storing leaves, when you open the top the leaves are right there within it, and if you put them in the table top in their numbered order, when you close it the seams DISAPPEAR and the piece looks like one solid top! To have all 4 leaves self-store, two will have skirts that match the table top, two will be without skirts.
Geared Slide
This is a close-up picture of the geared slide that makes these trestle top tables so easy to open. On normal tables, the craftsman uses two slides which make it so easy for one person to open the trestle top. On very large custom tables, such as conference tables, the craftsmen will often use 4 or more slides, to keep the top easy to open even if it is huge. Please give your feedback
Since this is a new lense, and it is supposed to be informative, please give me your feedback. I will take your comments and use them to improve this site. Tell me what you like, what could be improved, and what information you would like to see here. Thanks!
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- Arjoon Arjoon Sep 13, 2007 @ 11:25 am
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Cambridge Mission
Ivy League Mission Styling
The Cambridge Mission Trestle Top table adapts East Coast style with Frank Lloyd Wright genius. Oak, Cherry, Quarter Sawn Oak.Inquire or request a quote from our showroom experts
Close Up Shots: Cambridge Mission Table Base Chamfered Leg Open Tabletop
Craftsman Mission
Round and with leaves
The famous slatted design by Frank Lloyd Wright is especially beautiful in this table. All the top notch mission features. Oak, cherry, maple or 1/4 sawn oak.Double Pedestal Mission
If you love your Mission style Straight Up.
Heavy and strong table with a true mission mortise and tenon double base. Oak, cherry, maple or 1/4 sawn oak. One person to open and close!Quote Request from our showroom experts
Close Ups: Table Open Leaf Storage Base & FeetEdge
Ellison
Double Pedestal highlights woodgrain
The Ellison has two angled bases on sturdy feet. The table top edge is beveled, and it opens with a geared extension slide. The 4 leaves self-store, and levelers are standard. Oak, cherry, maple or 1/4 sawn oak.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Zooms: Ellison Table Pedestals Table Feet Leaf Storage Edge
Gateleg Mission Drop Leaf
Flexibility built right in
This is the kind of table I have, and I LOVE it. If you need to move every so often, and you never know what size room you'll have, this is great. It is SO FLEXIBLE for different rooms, different needs. Gorgeous, too! Oak, cherry, maple or 1/4 sawn oak.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Zooms: Table Opening Corner Leaf Edge Joint Drawer
Hartford Mission
Slants and bevels, but true Mission
Asian lines and art were perfect with Frank Lloyd Wright's mission designs. Here they meet in an awesome table. The top is rectangle with a beveled edge. 4 leaves. The skirt is angles to coordinate with the angled base. True mission legs and slatting, superior mortise and tenon joints, and geard extension slides. Oak, cherry, maple or 1/4 sawn oak. 42x72.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Zooms: Table Base Skirt Open In An Office In a Home
Leg Mission
Massive Legs
Love Mission but prefer legs to a base? Here we have a great leg table in the best Mission tradition. Corbels on the square mission legs, mission edge. Oak,cherry, maple, hickory and quarter sawn. Six sizes.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Zooms: Table Corbel Open Edge
Parker Mission
Tailored Mission
Extremely popular, this fabulous Parker Mission has massive chamfered cut-out footed legs, pronounced cut-out corners, mission edge and wooden extension slides. Available with up to 13 leaves, priced out at 4. Oak, cherry, maple, hickory or 1/4 sawn oak.4leaves Oak-----Cherry---1/4 Sawn
42x60--$1,492---$1,852---$1,802
42x66--$1,524---$1,892---$1,842
42x72--$1,554---$1,930---$1,880
For direct consultation: Contact
Amish Finishes
Amish Furniture Construction Details
Pinnacle Mission
Mission Clipped Corners
An unusual mission table with chamfer edge, clipped corners,and tapered mission base. Levelers come standard on this table and geared extension slides. Oak, cherry, hickory, maple or 1/4 sawn oak.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Zooms: Table Clipped Corner Edge Top Side
Pinnacle Royal
Walnut inlays in the Royal Mission line
Right with the Royal Mission line, but not so huge, the Pinnacle Royal has a tapered end top with walnut diamond inlays, missionedge, geared extension slides and a tapered mission pedestal. Oak, cherry, maple or 1/4 sawn oak. Request a quote from our showroom expertsZooms: Table Base Top Open InlayEdge
Rio Grande
Wild West Rustic
Shown in Hickory, this great table has a bevel edge, reeded skirt, squared bun-footed notched legs, wooden extension slides, and up to 13 leaves available. Oak, cherry or hickory.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Close Ups Table Edge Notched Legs Open Reeded Skirt
Royal Mission
Famous by the original designer
If you buy this anywhere else, you're buying a copy. Here you get the table from its original designer. So fabulous it quickly became a classic among decorators and professionals, but priced for the average person. Oak, cherry, maple, 1/4 sawn oak.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Zooms: Table Open Base Top Walnut Tabletop Inlays
Shaker Hill
Classic boat top and steam bent legs
The Shaker Hill has a tapered end top, on a true shaker, heavy splay-leg base with an arched spreader bar. It comes with a geared extension slide, so it needs only one person to open it, 4 leaves,and a mission edge.Oak, cherry, hickory, maple and 1/4 sawn oak.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Shaker Mission
Two famous styles meet
This classic shaker style goes with nearly everything. Bevel edge, tapered shaker legs, straight skirt, wooden extension slides.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Trestle Mission
Pure Mission Style
If you like your mission 'straight up' this is a great table. Oak,cherry,maple, or quarter sawn oak.Request a quote from our showroom experts
Vintage
Art Deco Fusion
Drop-dead beautiful! Shown in espresso finish. Art deco brushed nickel toe caps. Also in a double pedestal style.Request a quote from our showroom experts
West Village Mission
Wright Cut Out Mission
If you are a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright or Gustav Stickley, you'll recall the beautiful 'cut-outs' they used to decorate their pieces. Its ALL here. Oak, cherry, maple, hickory or 1/4 sawn. Request a quote from our showroom experts by Amish-Net
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