American Craftsman

Angela Labrecque -- Home Accents Today, 12/22/2010 6:24:57 AM

Although the Mission off-shoot of the Craftsman style is among the most imported and mass-produced design themes, a movement to produce home furnishings that respect original Craftsman ideals has recently begun to gain momentum.
     The style jumped the pond from England just in time to experience America's Roaring '20s. It quickly spread into every area of the home from architecture to furnishings, emphasizing simple refined lines, handcraftsmanship and a connection to the natural world.
     And now, the American Craftsman style has come home. These domestically made products take a conscious look back at the movement's engaging origins, while still keeping in mind the needs and wants of today's consumer.

THE BUNGALOW CRAFT The Gustav Delicate series by The Bungalow Craft features hand-painted patterns in acrylic on canvas, as well as custom handcrafted quarter-sawn oak frames with wood-burned detail ($1,150, set of three). Giclee prints are also available.	MEYDA LIGHTING Simple clean lines and geometric shapes, hallmarks of the Craftsman movement, are exemplified in the pyramid shade of the Montana Mission Floor Lamp by Meyda Lighting. Hand-cut pieces of glass are wrapped in copper foil and soldered together, while the footed floor base is hand-finished in dark bronze.
EPHRAIM FAIENCE POTTERY The Symmetry vase is hand-thrown by Ephraim Faience Pottery from local clay in its Wisconsin pottery studio that focuses on the Arts & Crafts style. Shown in a many-layered Algae glaze, the design is available in a variety of finishes ($238).	HARDEN FURNITURE Constructed by hand from solid quarter-sawn white oak, the America’s New Mission center table by Harden Furniture features a classic Craftsman pattern that is hand-inlaid on its side slats with copper, aluminum and stained glass ($4,470).
OLD HICKORY Constructed of stain-resistant, fade-resistant, antimicrobial nylon, the Folk Lore rug from Old Hickory is made-toorder in America within three weeks (5x8, $499).	COPELAND FURNITURE Copeland Furniture pays homage to Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the pre-eminent designers of the Craftsman era, with a recreation of his Taliesin Barrel chair. Solid American black cherry is machine-cut for precision and then hand-assembled, hand-finished and hand-upholstered in the United States ($1,199).