Styles
-Mission Style-
The name Mission Style is often used interchangeably with Craftsman style and Arts and Crafts style. Mission style furniture came about as a reaction to what was seen as ostentation in contemporary Victorian furniture. Furniture makers such as Gustav Stickley attempted to return to such fundamentals as simplicity and integrity in craftsmanship. The style still endures today
as a timeless American classic.
-Prairie Style-
While simplicity is the chief virtue of Mission Style furniture, the beauty of Prairie Style comes from its organic cosmetic features. Sharing the same straight-line geometry as Mission Style furniture, Prairie Style builds on it with such aesthetic embellishments as vertical and horizontal banding. Like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style houses, Prairie Style furniture is meant to complement the Midwestern prairie. Wood
-Maple-
Maple is the primary wood used for furniture by Prairie Maple. Its color is naturally bright and cheerful, so there is no need for staining. It looks beautiful as it is, and it only gets better with age, acquiring a slight golden tint. Maple is also well known for its random burls and curls that sometimes appear to be three-dimensional.
-Oak-
Quarter-sawn white oak is the traditional wood for mission style furniture. Its symmetry and ease of staining make it well suited to the task. The distinguishing feature of quarter-sawn white oak is the long rays and random flecks throughout. With the right finish, they contrast with the rest of the wood and showcase the wood's elegant character.
-Cherry-
Cherry is a beautiful and sturdy wood. When cut, it has a light salmon color, though it quickly becomes the dark noble color to which one is accustomed. Cherry can add brilliance as an accent wood or can work on its own as a reliable and elegant choice.
-Walnut-
Walnut is a dark brown wood that becomes lighter with age. It is a warm, rich wood that shares the same sort of three-dimensional patterns as maple. CRAFTSMANSHIP
-Tools-
I use a variety of modern power tools, as well as traditional woodworking tools, such as hand planes and scrapers. One priority is getting the surface of the wood as smooth as possible in order to do justice to the grain patterns and natural imperfections that make each piece unique.
-Joinery-
Traditional joinery has been around for millennia. One indispensable technique is the mortise and tenon joint. This is used at perpendicular joints, such as those of aprons and legs. It provides tough adhesion that results in long-lasting, sturdy furniture. Aprons are further reinforced with corner blocks.
-Geometry-
Aesthetics are second only to function. Each piece is deliberately designed to be pleasing to the eye, incorporating geometric features such as proportions of threes and the golden ratio. If you find Prairie and mission style furniture appealing, consider commissioning a piece. The drawings shown in this brochure are standard models that can be modified to meet your needs. Treat yourself to custom furniture designed from scratch and made by hand in the United States.
-David Thompson
