Mission Style Dining Tables
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For over one hundred years Mission style dining room furniture has been a favorite among the masses. This design technique is an offspring of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Thus it is distinguishable by its use of heavy oak wood with rich stains and simple elements.
During the late nineteenth century a revolt of sorts occurred against the Industrial Revolution. Architects and artisans became discouraged with the flamboyant look of the Victorian style, which was so fashionable in America and England during this period. This style of furniture was typically churned out on assembly lines producing everything from dining room tables to bedroom sets, and although it was extremely ornate in its appearance, the quality of the workmanship was considered below standard. These craftsmen came together and began to create furniture that focused on high quality products with simple Mission lines. They took their designs from the past, and although the English work was more gothic in nature creating intricate pieces with medieval ties, while the American designs resembled the simple pieces created by Spanish monks, who created chairs, beds, dining tables and more to furnish the missions in California, both countries relied on the same basic principles. These principles included creating functional well-built furniture that was created with basic lines and affordable for all people. The Americans managed to obtain this goal by combining the efforts of machine and man to create cost effective well-constructed goods. They focused their energy on emphasizing the natural beauty of the oak wood native to the country to create dining room tables and other items. The British, unfortunately, relied to heavily on the man-made side, which resulted in extensive labor costs, thus the wares that were churned out were obtainable only by the wealthy.
Today, Mission style dining furniture has come to represent the style or look associated with the works created by the Spanish monks rather than the hand made or high quality items fashioned during the time, although some pieces do have these characteristics as well. Rest assured that the Mission style developed during the Arts & Crafts Movement is alive and well, and it is thriving in the contemporary décor of many homes. The simplicity of the design and natural aspect has ensured its success in these modern times. However, the term has grown to include a multitude of looks that border on the edge of the Mission definition.
If you are in the market for a new dining room set and appreciate the rich look and queerly modern, yet antique feel of Mission furniture, there is a plethora of choices to wet your appetite. Styles that are truer to the original intent include the Ashley furniture “Norfolk Craftsman” dining set and the Homelegance furniture “975” dining set, which echo the simplicity and beauty of the authentic design with a rich dark stains and elegant slats and cross bars. The Mission style dining set Ashley “Drake” takes the principles of the original and adds a twist incorporating a more decorative look in the chairs for more elegance, while holding true to the basic design elements. It is in this same vane that the Homelegance “Shady Brook” flows. This Mission style dining room set offers authentic deep rich stains and dashes of Americana in the mix with turned legs on the table and chair legs and the buffet. In addition, this set throws elaborate iron scrollwork on the buffet. The solid chair back is a testament to the Mission genre. In contrast, the Ashley “Prairie View” takes the opposite approach. This Mission inspired dining set incorporates the simplicity of the design, and then goes even further to offer a rustic essence with antique finish bronze hardware and backless stools upholstered in the fashion of a ranch house, creating a very quaint marriage of two similar styles, Mission and rustic.
Mission style dining furniture is an excellent way to add charm and character to your décor. These pieces, such as dining room sets add warmth and style to any design and fit particularly well into rooms with contemporary or even antique aspects. So as you are searching for the right style of dining room furniture for your home, consider incorporating Mission style furniture into your home. You won’t be disappointed with the versatility.
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