Arts & Crafts Mission Trivia: Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley (3/9/1858 - 4/21/1942) was the preeminent American Arts and Crafts Mission furniture designer and builder. Stickley’s designs are still collected and copied today and stand as a perfect example of America’s influence on England’s Arts and Crafts movement. Stickley led an interesting life of great influence in his field but Stickley did not become the artist he was by accident. Indeed, many things led to his popularity and success, including poverty and failures.
In fact, did you know that…
1. Stickley was considered an architect as well as furniture designer? Stickley’s designs went beyond interiors and some of his most popular creations were homes?
2. He was a writer and publisher? In 1901, Stickley founded The Craftsman, a periodical about the philosophies of the English Arts & Crafts movement with an American accent.
3. Gustav is credited with creating the 1st electric chair? It is still in place at Auburn State prison in Auburn, New York.
4. There were actually 5 Stickley Brothers in the furniture business?
GUSTAV, CHARLES, ALBERT, LEOPOLD AND JOHN GEORGE
5. Stickley was originally a stonemason with his dad? First an apprentice and then a journeyman…and he hated it.
6. Gustav was a drop out? Not by choice, however. He left school at age 12 and in the eighth grade so he could help support his family.
7. Stickley and his brothers went to Pennsylvania with their mother when their father abandoned the family in Wisconsin?
8. His mother’s brother, Gustav’s uncle, first trained him in the furniture business as a chair maker?
9. Lack of money limited his tools thus affecting his creations? His primitive tools created the primitive designs we love today.
10. Gustav was born “Gustave“ but at some point dropped the “E” ?
Tags: Arts and Crafts, arts and crafts movement, Craftsman, electric chair, furniture design, Gustav Stickley, Mission, primitive designs, stickley brothers
