Wednesday 16 December 2015

What Is A Misson Sofa

Mission furniture originated in the 1920s as a response to what its makers saw as the excessive fussiness and decoration of the Victorian era. Mission sofas, like all Mission furniture, are characterized by clean lines and sturdy construction. The aesthetic of Mission furniture is designed to draw attention to its construction rather than distract attention through frills and applied decor. Does this Spark an idea?

Materials


Mission sofas are traditionally made out of quarter-sawn oak. The term "quarter-sawn" refers not to a type of oak but to the method of cutting. Quarter-sawn oak has each board cut radially out of the log, rather than simply slicing the log into strips. This method is what creates the distinctive flakes that are evident in the grain of quarter-sawn oak. It also makes the lumber more stable and less prone to shrinkage, swelling and warping. The cushions on Mission sofas are usually made of brown leather or sometimes out of fabrics that are complementary to the color and grain of the oak.


History


The primary developer of Mission furniture was Gustav Stickley, who worked in New York State in the early 20th century. He was inspired by the work of English designer William Morris as well as by the furniture found in Spanish missions, thus the name of the furniture. Stickley was a theorist as well as a craftsman and elaborated on the reasons behind his design theories in a magazine called "The Craftsman." Like Morris, Stickley believed that design was closely related to issues of social justice and meaningful work.


Construction


Traditionally constructed Mission sofas make use of mortise and tenon joinery, which involves cutting a slot, or mortise, into one piece of wood, then cutting a tenon on the end of another piece of wood that is the same size as the mortise. The two are then joined and secured in place by a peg that is driven through both pieces of wood, which creates an extremely strong joint that can resist the wear and tear that a sofa experiences. Mission sofas are often characterized by numerous closely placed slats on their sides, and these are also joined into the body of the sofa using mortise and tenon joints.


Uses


Mission sofas are usually used in domestic design schemes in conjunction with other pieces of Mission furniture. Mission furniture is often found in Arts and Crafts houses, because the two design traditions use similar materials and aesthetics and are very compatible together. Because of their clean lines and contemporary looks, Mission sofas also work well in more eclectic or modernist settings and can be successfully integrated into many different decors.

Tags: Mission sofas, Mission furniture, clean lines, Mission sofas usually, mortise tenon, piece wood