Amish Furniture Shops: A Tradition of Cabinetmaking Excellence

The people who build a product speak volumes about the quality, durability, and value of the product. For example, Swiss watches are renowned for fine craftsmanship, innovation, precision, quality, and luxury in large part because of the legendary skill of Swiss watchmakers. The same principle is true for Amish solid hardwood furniture and the skilled cabinetmakers behind it. Let’s find out more in Amish Furniture Shops: A Tradition of Cabinetmaking Excellence. Also, you can find out more about buying Amish furniture online by reading How to Buy Amish Furniture Online.

Why do the Amish build furniture?

As a self-sufficient group with a deep tradition of faith and piety, the Amish build furniture to meet their own needs, provide income, and express their faith, tradition, creativity, and practicality. The Amish, who are members of the Anabaptist faith, view furniture making as a way to honor God and serve their community.

How did the Amish become so good at cabinetmaking?

Tradition, self-sufficiency, and creativity are the main reasons Amish men became so proficient in cabinetmaking. The Amish believe that they should live free of ‘worldly’ institutions such as municipal government, as well as conveniences such as cars and television. As a result, the Amish choose to live on farms or in small rural communities and make a living from occupations that keep them tied to their communities. Cabinetmaking is one of these occupations, and boys learn woodworking or other trades after completing the 8^th grade in Amish schools. Amish fathers and grandfathers routinely pass down woodworking techniques they learned from their dads. This accounts for Amish furniture being renowned for excellence.

Is Amish furniture built in factories?

No. Amish furniture is built in small, family-run Amish Furniture Shops primarily in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These shops often specialize in different types of furniture or different aspects of the business. For example, shops specialize in dining room furniture, entertainment furniture, occasional tables, dining room chairs, or outdoor furniture. Other shops focus on finishing (sanding, applying paint, varnish, etc.). Responding to trends in the marketplace and feedback from customers, Amish cabinetmakers frequently create new furniture designs that incorporate materials such as metal, glass, epoxy resins, and electronics!

Do Amish Furniture Shops use power tools?

Amish cabinetmakers usually avoid using municipality-supplied electricity. However, they use battery-operated and pneumatic (air-powered) tools powered by diesel engines. Amish craftsmen also use traditional hand tools like hand planes, hand saws, hammers, mallets, hatchets, chisels, and saws.

What types of wood do Amish cabinetmakers use?

Amish cabinetmakers typically use hardwoods like oak, maple, cherry, hickory, and walnut. They also use mahogany and birch. Oak (both ‘red’ and ‘white’ varieties) is a very popular choice due to its strength, durability, and moderate price. Red oak is loved for its warmth and pronounced grain pattern, while white oak – specifically ‘quarter-sawn’ white oak — is favored for displaying an eye-catching ‘fleck’ or tiger-stripe pattern. Cherry is favored for its rich, reddish-brown hue and its straight grain. Furniture lovers appreciate the dense, fine, and uniform grain of maple wood. Hickory, on the other hand, is known for toughness, durability, and pronounced wood grain that lends itself to being used for rustic furniture. Meanwhile, walnut is renowned for its rich, chocolate-brown color and lovely grain pattern. Lesser-known hardwoods used by Amish cabinetmakers include beech, birch, elm, and mahogany.

How does furniture get from Amish woodshops to my house?

Once Amish furniture has been carefully handcrafted with precision and expertly finished by skilled artisans in a traditional Amish woodshop, it is entrusted to professional delivery companies who specialize in handling fine furniture. These experienced carriers take every precaution (your furniture is professionally packaged, using a blanket or protective foam) to ensure that each piece is transported safely and arrives at your home in pristine condition, reflecting the same level of care and craftsmanship with which it was made.

Depending on the distance to your home, the carrier may deliver the furniture directly to your house or take it to the terminal closest to your house. From there, a delivery truck handles the rest of the delivery. The delivery driver will contact you to arrange a delivery time. The driver will deliver your furniture based on the delivery option you selected. With Curbside Delivery, your furniture will be delivered at the closest practical spot to your house, such as on the sidewalk or in your driveway. You will be responsible for moving your furniture inside. The other option is In-Home Delivery, in which the driver and perhaps an assistant will take your furniture into your house and assemble it if necessary.

Do Amish cabinetmakers build anything other than furniture?

Yes. Amish cabinetmakers build several non-traditional furniture items, such as fireplaces and mantels, as well as non-furniture items. For example, Amish artisans build toys and home accessories like clocks, cutting boards, bread boxes, board games, plant stands, and magazine racks. Amish cabinetmakers also build sheds and barns, while Amish carpenters build new homes. In Northern Indiana, several Amish cabinetmakers help build RVs. Working in carriage shops and similar facilities, Amish cabinetmakers build their buggies – including the frames, wheels, and even the brakes!

Why should you support Amish cabinetmakers?

You should support Amish cabinetmakers because buying their solid hardwood furniture puts you on track to enjoy their exceptional beauty and craftsmanship for years to come. And because the furniture is heirloom-quality, generations to come will potentially do the same. What’s more, buying from Amish cabinetmakers directly supports small, family-owned businesses within rural communities. In addition, your dollars will go toward enhancing sustainable practices. This is because Amish cabinetmakers endeavor to source their wood locally and responsibly, thereby minimizing the environmental impact.

How easy is it to find heirloom-quality Amish furniture online?

Finding heirloom-quality Amish furniture online is rather simple. Simply go online and ask for ‘Amish furniture’ or similar words. You’ll see a list of Amish furniture retailers on your screen. Among them is e-Amish Furniture. They offer finished heirloom-quality Amish furniture from their inventory. Or, you can order pieces with limited customization. In both cases, your furniture will be shipped fast through their Quick Ship program.