Modern furniture buyers are both savvy and sophisticated consumers. Like Mission, Shaker and Arts and Crafts the Modern furniture consumer is not just a buyer but an investor and a collector. Many of these knowledgeable furniture connoisseurs have found the Amish craftsmen of Northern Indiana have held true to the Modernist’s ideal that human beings can create a beautiful environment by improving and reshaping their surroundings with furniture in sturdy and functional designs.

Modern furniture, also known as contemporary design, began to develop as part of a series of reforming movements in the late 19^th century and early 20^th century. This movement affected almost every aspect of life from art to literature to home design. New and progressive ways to design using the latest technologies and philosophies were celebrated as Modernism came into vogue. Stepping free of the gilded and overly indulgent era of the Victorians, and riding on the new age of the Industrial Revolution, designers were captivated by new ideals in religion, politics and every day living – including the some of the most basic elements - like furniture.

By deviating from the norm of heavy decoration and the more-is-better philosophies that had overtaken the world in the latter half of the 1800‘s, the minimalist modern furniture designer found a sense of freedom while also empowering the home owner to play a creative role in designing their own home. A modern home dweller can indeed create a residence of timeless clean lines and light and airy open spaces.

Many modern furniture producers are still seeking out new and abstract pieces and materials. The Amish have developed their line of modern and contemporary home furnishings in native solid hardwoods. Although designers like Ferdinand Kramer believed in mass production, many of his designs were similar to the simplistic nature of the Shakers, whom many designers of contemporary furniture emulated. The Amish hold true to those designs. Hans Wegner’s solid wood pieces could stand side by side with the Amish Kenwood or Yorkshire table.

Tags: Amish Furniture Styles, Contemporary Design, Contemporary Furniture, Ferdinand Kramer, furniture design, hans wegner, modern furniture, Modernism

This entry was posted on Monday, October 27th, 2008 at 10:57 pm and is filed under Amish Furniture Styles, History of Furniture Making, Modern & Contemporary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.