The distinctive lines, weight and finishes of Arts and Crafts furniture have contributed to its continued popularity through the ebb and flow of style trends. Since its inception in England in the late 1880s, the style was reimagined by the designers and craftsmen who developed it. Although each designer or craftsman involved in originating and developing the style added his own touch, each remained loyal to a prime tenet of the design--that furnishings, decorations and house construction should form an integrated work of art. Does this Spark an idea?
The Morris Chair
The most well-known Arts and Crafts furniture piece is the Morris chair. Its wide seat, reclining back and thick armrests invite the user to settle in for a long rest. The design for the chair appears complicated, but nearly any woodworker with a moderate skill level can complete the project satisfactorily. Some designs are more complex than others and require a greater skill level for such tasks as bending or cutting the curved arm rests.
The Greene and Greene Sideboard
Charles and Henry Greene deeply influenced the Arts and Crafts movement by bringing Asian style to their designs. Greene and Greene pieces are easy to identify because they generally carry the cloud-lift motif, a rising or lowering set of curves at the ends or middle of legs, edges and stretchers. A challenging project is to duplicate the style in a sideboard. The cabinet carcasses are square, in keeping with the movement style, and the joinery is usually simple, with screws hidden behind ebony plugs. To set your project apart, include Greene-style stretchers, much wider than those found on other styles, between the legs.
The Stickley Table
Gustav Stickley started building furniture around 1900 and influenced the Craftsman and Mission styles in the Arts and Crafts movement. Straight lines and weighty components are the hallmarks of the Stickley style. The furniture pieces have minimal ornamentation, making them attractive choices for woodworkers to re-create. Stickley tables are easy to build, with simple joinery and none of the complex decorations of the Greene styles.
The Harvey Ellis Bookcase
While working for Stickley, designer Harvey Ellis came up with the plans for a bookcase that has just the right combination of proportion and decorative touches to make it a popular project to this day. Through-tenons and the subdued columns that decorate the face frame give the simple carcass a rich look that is not out of place in the movement's styles. Construction is easy--the most challenging component is the door, with its multiple rails and stiles and inset glass.
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