American Craftsman style furniture actually started and has roots dating back to a British design movement called Arts and Crafts. This movement dates back to as far as the 1860’s. Around the time the British movement came to a close is when the American Craftsman movement picked up. Encompassing more than just furniture the American Craftsman style included architecture, and design as well as a way of life. Lasting until the early part of the 20th century it was a very popular style. The term was coined by a magazine in the early 1900s which labeled this new and upcoming style.

The Craftsman primary influence came from the ideals of the pre-industrial revolution. It was a return back to a time where items were not mass produced and had a sense of individuality. Pieces which were made from Glass, wood and metal from local sources were used to create these elegant designs. Simplicity of style was the true root, consisting of sturdy lines and built for the long haul these pieces were extremely sturdy. The true importance of these pieces were the natural materials used rather then the cheap materials and plastic forms.

As stated above the philosophy of the Craftsman furniture era was the individualness of the piece. Taking away the sense of mass produced and copied furniture and moving towards the artists individual perception of a piece from the materials they had to choose from. Natural materials, and joint work was usually exposed with a lack of additional decoration. Using clean lines. Purpose over pointlessness. No need for anything more than the true essentials can be found in the Craftsmans pieces of work.

Craftsman style furniture focused primarily on woods, coppers, and justification of the pieces used. The pieces can be used in nearly any type of home. The simple and elegant designs fit into any modern home and also those focusing on the homey classic feel. The pieces are extremly versatile because the designs are so clean, and they make an excellent addition to any home.