The first Amish to arrive in the United States settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Now there are many large settlements in the U.S., primarily in Holmes and adjoining counties in northeast Ohio, and in northeastern Indiana’s Elkhart and surrounding counties. These communities are surrounded by forest stocked with White and Red Oak, as well as Cherry, Maple, Hickory, and Black Walnut. Building on a tradition of self-sufficiency, the Amish took full advantage of the bounty of wood surrounding them to build their own furniture.

Over the course of the past century, the primary Amish occupation of farming has been increasingly supplemented by woodworking. In the beginning, Amish furniture was only publicly available through direct purchase from an Amish shop or nearby retailer. Now with the advent of the Internet, Amish craftsmen cooperate with “English” businessmen to globally distribute their goods and we can all enjoy the beauty of Amish furniture in our own homes. It is first plain sawn or quartersawn, either in an “English” or Amish mill. The plain-sawn technique has the advantage of being faster and produces a wide and long open grain effect, with long dark lines revealing the growth rings. These growth ring lines are rough to the touch, thereby creating a textured surface.

Generally, an oak dining table is constructed from plain-sawn oak. On the other hand, quartersawn oak is prized for its beautiful rayflake grain designs and its resistance to the effects of atmospheric moisture. Thus this cut of white oak is very durable, and when properly finished, it will likely not rot, decay, cup, twist, or crack.

However, the quartersawn milling technique is extremely labor intensive. First, the whole log needs to be cut lengthwise into quarter rounds. Next, the quarter-round lengths are cut perpendicular to the growth rings, rotating the length 90 degrees back and forth with each cut. The result is a feathered or furry grain that is both beautiful and strong. This process has been made easier by the recent use of diesel generators, which are an allowed form of electricity because the Amish retain control of the power source.

Once the mill has processed the wood, Amish craftsmen then carefully choose the lumber most suitable for each unique piece of furniture. Using his eye for design, he will select pieces that complement each other to create a lasting masterpiece for any home. The Amish craftsman uses generations-old techniques in the construction of each custom piece. For drawers, dovetail joints are used, and slats and support pieces are joined in the mortise and tenon fashion. The Amish take special care with their finish work, following multiple sanding and finish-application steps. When an Amish piece of wood furniture is properly cared for, it will retain its original finish for a lifetime.

Mass-produced imitation Amish furniture stands in direct contrast to handmade solid wood Amish craftsmanship and is usually made of particle board and veneer. Carefully inspect any prospective purchases, as there are many of these imitation Amish-style furnishing currently being sold on the market. When you purchase a genuine Amish furniture piece, you are making an investment that will grace your home for generations.

Tags: Amish, Amish furniture, Furniture, oak furniture

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