A simple spindle back chair is definitive of Amish dining furniture.
The Amish furniture builders in the United States are noted for crafting solid and well-built pieces for all rooms of the home. Attention is given to the piece of wood used in making the furniture rather than the embellishments applied to a finished piece. Hardwoods like oak, cherry, pine and maple are used. Graining is determined by the sawing method employed. Amish dining is solid, simple and built to last generations.
The Dining Table
Amish dining tables are hand-built and come in a variety of shapes. Tabletops are a minimum of 1 inch thick and are solid. Veneers are not used in Amish furniture. Table leaves are hand-sanded to blend seamlessly with the table top. Table legs are turned or solid, depending on the style of the table, and are substantially load-bearing.
Dining Chairs
Spindle backs are traditional in Amish dining chairs. The shape of the chair backs varies, from oval to a tapered rectangle. The slats are either round or flattened for a more comfortable back position. Creative designs for the slats include those shaped like a sheaf of wheat, a feather or a paddle. Legs are turned or solid and feature crossbars for stability.
The Sideboard
Sturdy and solid, the Amish sideboard is influenced by the Welsh cupboard and built for heavy storage. Rectangular and unembellished, the front panels and hardware are the only decorative elements on the sideboard. Legs are either flared or solidly straight. Spindles are often used between the bottom of the cabinet and the lower part of the sideboard.
The Hutch
The Amish hutch is the most elaborate piece of dining room furniture in the room. Cabinetry with glass or wood shelving provides display space for decorative pieces and is placed atop a solid sideboard. A lifted hutch gives room on the base piece for use as a buffet. The lines of the hutch are simple and hardware is unobtrusive.
Amish Dining Room Accent Pieces
Pie safes and jelly cupboards are common items in Amish dining rooms. Both types of cabinet are constructed with simple lines and solid doors and legs. Interiors of the cupboards contain planked wood shelving. If glass fronting is used, it is modestly etched. The cupboard designs emanate from the practical needs of the Amish housewife.
Tags: Amish dining, Amish furniture, Dining Room, dining room furniture, room furniture, turned solid