Stickley Furniture History - Did You Know?

For over one hundred years, the Stickley name has meant meticulous craftsmanship, practical design and superb quality. In 1900 Leopold and younger brother John George purchased the Collins, Sisson & Pratt furniture company in Fayetteville, New York. Four years later it was incorporated as L. & J.G. Stickley, Inc. In the early decades of this century L. & J.G. Stickley, along with older brother Gustav, helped popularize the ideals and philosophies of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. The Stickleys believed in clean lines and the inherent beauty of natural wood and leather.

Strong, simple construction and honest, comfortable design were at the heart of their craft.

The American Arts & Crafts movement had its roots in Europe. John Ruskin and William Morris in England, Charles Rennie MacKintosh in Scotland and Josef Hoffman in Austria all were influential in creating a new aesthetic; one which stressed function and unadorned beauty over the ornateness of the Victorian era.

The new style was championed in America by the likes of the Greene Brothers in California, Frank Lloyd Wright in the Midwest and the Stickley Brothers in New York. L. & J.G. Stickley introduced their first furniture line, the Mission Oak, at a 1905 trade show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their collection of simple furniture built along mission lines was very well received and helped set the standard in fine American woodwork for the entire furniture industry. By the end of World War I, the Mission style had lost much of its popularity, but today these early pieces are coveted by museums and collectors, and bring premium bids at auctions. Recent sales have set records for 20th century American woodwork.

In 1922 Leopold Stickley announced the introduction of the Cherry Valley Collection. These timeless adaptations of traditional New England and Pennsylvania furnishings represent the pure and enduring appeal of authentic American design. Leopold scoured the American and European countrysides for trestle tables, comer cupboards, dressers and Windsor chairs. He inaugurated a line of period designs in popular finishes that helped expand the Stickley reputation for quality furniture. Fashioned from wild black cherry wood from the Adirondacks, these pieces have gained acclaim over the years and provided generations of families with durable beauty and comfort. Experts have always recognized the superior quality of Stickley's craftsmanship. In 1956 Leopold Stickley was named Revered Dean of Cabinet Makers; whose art and craftsmanship has contributed mightily to American home life.

The modern era of the Stickley company began in 1974. Alfred and Aminy Audi purchased L. & J.G. Stickley and guided the company to new levels of accomplishment. The Audis have steadfastly maintained the company tradition of pride, integrity and deep respect for the Arts & Crafts heritage that made Stickley famous. The name is so highly regarded that in 1977 Stickley was honored by a tribute in the Congressional Record. The reissue of the classic Mission Oak Collection piqued the interest of a whole new generation of collectors and furniture lovers. Just as sophisticated and contemporary today as they were in 1900, these pieces offer a level of quality and construction that still reflects the craftsman philosophy in which they were designed.

The company's commitment to quality design and construction has made the reissue of the historic Mission Oak a success. The dedication and handiwork, the unending quest for perfection, the firm commitment to the Craftsman ideal; all remain the same today as they did when the Stickley company began. The furniture you purchase today will be the valued antique of tomorrow.