Gustav Stickley (1858-1942) was a leading spokesperson for the American Craftsman movement. Stickley formed the philosophy for his Craftsman furniture after encountering the British Arts & Crafts movement during trips to Europe in the mid-1890s. Before he discovered and began making Arts & Craft-inspired items, Stickley manufactured the mass-produced, ornamental, fad-driven furniture which he later denounced.

From April 1, 2008 - August 10, 2008 at Fenimore Museum: Gustav Stickley (1858-1942)

The Craftsman Home was the realization of Stickley’s philosophy. While individual pieces of furniture used construction as decoration, embodied simplicity, and prioritized utility, these tenants were also implemented on a much grander scale within the home. Rejecting the extravagance of Victorian interiors, Stickley championed functional homes whose beauty derived from simplicity and harmony. As the center of family life, the living room exemplified these qualities. Furniture, built-in features, exposed structural elements, textiles, and colors coalesced “into place as if they had grown there.”

To achieve harmony and balance, Stickley believed each Craftsman room should have a central focal point from which the design of the rest of the space flowed. In the dining room, for example, this was often the table, but sideboards or china cabinets were sometimes chosen.

Features approximately 40 pieces of Stickley furniture which exemplify Gustav Stickley’s philosophy.

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