If you’ve never bought furniture before and want to know if a piece is Amish-made, there are some ways to tell is a piece of furniture labeled as Amish is genuine.
How to Tell if Amish Furniture Is Authentic
Look for Handcrafted Details
Amish furniture is handmade with great attention to detail. Check for intricate craftsmanship and hand-carved features, as opposed to machine-made uniformity.
This sets it apart from machine-made furniture, which tends to look more uniform and less detailed. So, when you see those special touches, it’s a good sign that it’s Amish-made.
Solid Wood Construction
Amish furniture is usually made from solid wood, such as oak, cherry, or maple. To check if it’s genuine, make sure the entire piece is constructed from real wood and not made from particleboard or covered with a thin wood layer called veneer.
Solid wood is a sign of quality in Amish furniture.
Dovetail Joints
Amish furniture commonly uses dovetail joints, which are strong and durable. These joints are visible on the corners of drawers and indicate quality construction.
No Assembly Required
Amish-made furniture is typically delivered already put together, unlike some other furniture that you have to assemble yourself.
So, if you get a piece of furniture that’s ready to use right away, there’s a good chance it’s Amish-made.
Buy From Amish Communities
If you buy furniture directly from an Amish community or workshop, you’re getting the real deal, which is Amish-made furniture. This is because there are no middlemen involved.
And guess what? It’s often cheaper this way!
Amish furniture can be pricey, but when you skip the middleman, you save some money while still getting top-notch quality.
Keep in mind that Amish custom furniture is made by hand, and it can take a few months to finish because they focus on getting every detail just right.
What Are the Two Main Styles of Amish Furniture?
The two main styles of Amish furniture are Shaker Style and Mission Style.
The Shaker Style is known for its simplicity, functionality, and clean lines. It often features tapered legs, meaning they get narrower towards the bottom.
It has a clean and simple design with not a lot of fancy details. Lighter wood stains are commonly used.
You’ll often find round wooden knobs or pulls on drawers. The bottom ones are larger and they get smaller as you go up.
Shaker furniture is usually made from maple or pine.
The way the pieces are put together doesn’t hide the connections, you can see the joinery.
Mission-Style Amish furniture has square, straight legs that don’t taper. It often features black or metal knobs and pulls on drawers.
The drawers maintain a uniform size, not varying in size from top to bottom.
The method of assembling the pieces is often concealed, so the connections aren’t visible.
It can be crafted from oak, maple, or cherry.
Does Amish Furniture Use Screws?
Amish furniture usually avoids using screws. Instead, it relies on traditional craftsmanship techniques like dovetail joints, mortise and tenon joints, and wooden pegs to hold the pieces together. These methods are preferred because they showcase the skill of the craftsman.
However, in some cases, modern Amish furniture makers might include screws or other hardware for specific parts, but the goal with traditional Amish pieces is to keep the use of such fasteners to a minimum.
Do Amish Use Wood Glue?
In traditional Amish furniture-making, they typically don’t use wood glue. Instead, they rely on special joining techniques like dovetail joints, mortise and tenon joints, and wooden pegs to hold the furniture pieces together.
What Finish Do the Amish Use on Their Furniture?
Amish furniture can have different coatings on it, depending on who made it and where. Here are some common types:
- Oil-Based Stains: They make the wood look nice and protect it.
- Clear Varnish: This gives the wood a shiny look and shields it from stains and water damage.
- Paint: Sometimes, Amish furniture is painted in different colors to make it unique.
- Unfinished: Every so often, Amish furniture is left without any finish. This lets the wood change naturally over time and get a special look.