Stickley Furniture: a Primer

We had a discussion in the comments over the weekend about Stickley Furniture, and not everyone was sure what it was that we were talking about, so I decided to do a post about it. It’s one of those things that you probably recognize now that you see it (in the photos above), but just didn’t know what it was called, right?

Gustav Stickley (1858–1942) was a furniture maker and architect who became the leading spokesperson for the American Craftsman movement. In 1901 he founded The Craftsman magazine, which argued that homes should be designed more “organically.” His philosophies influenced Frank Lloyd Wright, which is why you can imagine the furniture shown here belonging in one of Wright’s homes.

Stickley believed that:

A house ought to be constructed in harmony with its landscape.
Architects should use local materials whenever possible.
Homes should have open floor plans to facilitate family interaction.
Furniture should be built into a home.
Lots of big windows (and natural light) were important in a home.

Stickley began making furniture in the mission oak style in the early 1900s, which was simple and plain, showcasing the warm tones of the wood (see photo of original “mission oak” dining room furniture at Mission San Juan Capistrano).

Stickley’s furniture was all handmade and crafted to be simple and useful. He primarily used native American oak and natural upholstery materials (canvas and leather). The wood was stained, never painted.

For more information:

Watch a video about Stickley furniture.
Go to the official Stickley website
Read how to determine the value of antique Stickley
Take a tour of a home Frank Lloyd Wright designed

If You’re Hooked on Architecture:

Tagged as: Architecture, arts and crafts, design, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustav Stickley, interior design, leather, mission oak style, oak, Stickley furniture, upholstery, wood

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1 Julie July 13, 2008 at 11:56 am: I am so relieved to see there are others like me! I was beginning to think I have been reincarnated because of my love for this style. It feels like home every time I see new images of the craftsman style era. Thank you!