Mission Style

Kiss Furniture.

Now, before you think I want you to run to the living room and hug and kiss your sofa like The Redhead smooches every shaggy-haired mongrel she comes across – stop!

In this case, Kiss means, “Keep it simple, silly”, the philosophy behind the Arts and Crafts, Mission and Craftsman styles of furniture. While there are some differences between the styles, there are more similarities, thus blurring the lines and causing a bit of uncertainty in labeling a particular piece of furniture as belonging to one style or another.

Starting in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, furniture buyers, designers and makers had grown weary of many of the excesses of the Victorian style. Ornamentation of furniture with carvings, reliefs and turnings had become easier and less expensive with the machinery of The Industrial Age. Too often, these elements were added simply because they could be.

Gustav Stickley, Joseph McHugh and other furniture designer/builders began creating furniture that emphasized quality craftsmanship and materials, simple lines - often exposing joints and other construction techniques – and the pieces’ function greatly dictating its form.

So, what’s the difference between the styles? Using the KISS principal, here is my take.  

Mission style is almost always constructed of oak. It is a bit chunky, has straight lines, often has exposed joinery and lacks ornamentation. See the desk above and chairs below for an example.

Arts and Crafts furniture has much of the Mission style but is a bit less chunky, utilizes various woods, has a bit more of a “refined, yet rustic” look and very often has some decorative elements – cut outs, carvings – often inspired by nature. Leaf and flower cutouts on the furniture sides, clover patterned tops, some animal figuring are indicative of Arts and Crafts style. See the following pieces.

Craftsman Style is very closely related to Mission. Interestingly, Stickley strongly disliked the term although his pieces are often referred to as being of the Mission style. Simple lines, less bulky, excellent construction and utilizing various woods, Craftsman style was the American version of Arts and Crafts that had originated in England.  This style, too, emphasized form determined by function.

So, when viewing an Arts and Crafts, Mission or Craftsman style piece of furniture think of The Redhead and a stray dog – just give it a KISS!

Hope to see you soon,

Bill