Mission style and southern comforts
I buy San Antonio Shoe Company shoes because they are the longest lasting and most comfortable shoes I have ever worn and worked in and they generally last me about 5 1/2 years wearing them about seven days a week 52 weeks a year. Look for SAS Shoe signs. The staff are helpful and the company has an impeccable reputation.I say all of that because when I bought my first pair 20 years ago, there were pieces of furniture in the store that harkened back to one of my favourite styles commonly called Mission Style furniture. It’s not in any way complicated to make but very comfortable. Surprisingly, I first discovered this when my studies in American furniture took me to research furniture at the American Museum of Furniture in Bath, Somerset, UK.
When I later arrived Texas and visited different Texan banks and businesses, I discovered a very distinct Southern-Comfort line of Mission-style furniture and furnishings I liked. It countered the excesses of more affluent expression in very much the same way the Arts and Crafts ‘Movement’ had countered the flamboyant whims of the Victorian era in the latter half of the previous century. The ultra relaxed style Mission held by its presence gave that certainty of solidity more refined and sophisticated pieces lacked. It was on the one hand clunky and heavy and on other unpretentious and hugging. In eschewing refinements and flamboyancy of more sophisticated lines it’s very presence almost commanded you to ‘sit down and be hugged a little. Take your time, wrap your hand around a glass of iced tea and rest awhile.’
Melting into one of the rockers, I laid my head back, drifted into southern comfort momentarily while the kind lady told me feet had grown “a tad” and this time I needed “an eleven.”
This will be the Craftsman Style Rocking chair we will soon be making in our woodworkingmasterclasses.com workshops.
Some of the chairs I have made through my US history are somewhat similar and I was surprised how close the measurements were and so too the various angles, shapes and so on. That’s how we are influenced by designs without knowing that they are indeed impacting the things we design and make. Sketching the chairs in my mind, I recorded the critical details so I could look at them later and sketch them into my sketchbook. A habit I encourage in those I teach. Sizes are something I can now gauge very closely by eye. Anything under 2” I can get pretty much dead on, over 2” within 1/16” up to two feet. After that it’s downhill.
Of the three chairs I studied, I noticed that they are all identically sized and the only variance came in the rocking chair, at the point where the difference is created to accommodate the rockers. I liked the boxed leather seats, which were well cushioned from 4” foam. The arm corbels were consistent with the ones I use on my current Craftsman-style rocking chair.
As to copying a design. These chairs became eminent domain in the late 1800s and early 1900s and have now been circulating in that same Southern-comfort style for just over a century. There was a time thirty years ago when everyone thought the Arts and Crafts style would soon die out, but it really didn’t. You see it is cultural and culture is sometimes slow to change.
Paul, you sound very excited to show this part of your life with your online students. And I – for one – am excited to see it. … Robin HC
I’m with you on this, Ken. I’ve been excited about this chair since Paul first discussed it as a project back in December. Also a bit jealous of your wood acquisition. There are lots of good reasons to use old oak and I can’t think of any reasons for passing it up.
Paul, I would like to build the Mission Style Rocker shown in this article. Are plans available for it? If not could you please give me the height of the seat rails and the height of the back legs. I assume the other dimensions are similar to the Mission Style chair for which I have the plans. Thank you, Frank Ryan
Not sure if my measurements could help you. My chair has no connection with other designs as I designed it from scratch with no reference to other makers or designs. The chair is a pattern I developed for my classes so it is unlikely anything I give you will match what you have I’m afraid.