In the genus known as Acer there is a group of trees that produce a distinctive wood used in high quality Amish furniture, more commonly known as the hard maple, sugar maple or just maple. Grown in many places in the Western Hemisphere, the maple tree loves cold weather. In the North the sugar maple is tapped for its sap that is boiled to the much-loved maple syrup. Early Native Americans knew the value and strength of maple and made weapons and spears crafted out of it. Because of that strength, in the 1800’s even women’s shoe heels were made out of the maple tree‘s wood.

Reaching an average of 130 feet, the fast growing sugar maple tree is found mainly in the Mid-Atlantic and Lake states. This tree is the second most abundant of all the hardwoods and arguably the hardest. The texture of this maple ranges from extremely hard to medium with exceptionally small pores and a close fine, uniform consistency. The maple’s sapwood is a satiny white and contains a mildly red-brown tint. The maple tree’s heartwood has variations ranging from light to a dark red-brown. While usually straight grained this wood is also famed for a few variations that occur like birds-eye, flame, quilted, wavy, blistered, curly, and fiddle back figures. Because maple is so hard it will often split before allowing a nail; even more surprisingly, will bend the nail.

The early Colonists recognized the maple’s value, using it in many home furniture items, as witnessed in Early American designs. While the Amish today use it in fine home furnishings, especially chairs and baby furniture, maple is also used widely in veneers, kitchen cabinets, doors and moldings. Because it has no specific flavor it is the standard hardwood chosen for kitchen utensils and cutting boards. Interestingly, bowling pins and lanes are created from the hardwood maple and many musical instruments like guitar fingerboards and drums also owe maple their quality.

The Amish craftsman finds the maple woods easy to stain, up to a medium dark color, although their natural coloration is beautiful and desired. Maple is able to hold an outstanding finish like RESISTOVAR, which is preferred by Amish craftsmen. From china cabinets to dining room table and chairs to entire bedroom suites and armoires maple is a preferred hardwood that can accommodate many design styles. From Modern to Shaker and Mission maple is available in many stains and designs from Amish furniture producers today.