Mission Bookcase

This bookcase is a good example of straightforward Mission-style furniture, with sturdy mortise and through tenon construction, square pegs, and shop-made door pulls. When Gustav Stickley started designing furniture like this in the early 1900s, he had the “common man” in mind. Out with the ornate — furniture should be simple and functional. The result was the Mission style (sometimes called “Craftsman” style furniture). But Stickley was not just concerned with design. Furniture also had to be built in the tradition of the master craftsman. His furniture was built with a combination of machinery and handwork. That’s what I like most about this bookcase. It’s built in the same tradition. Heavy and repetitive tasks (cutting, planing, and drilling) can be done by machine, while the finer details (the through tenons, square pegs, and door dividers) require careful handwork. The whole process reflects Stickley’s concern for quality and craftsmanship.

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