Stickley #641 Night Stands

While DesertCraftsmen does at least 95% original designs, it's fun once in a while to do an exact copy of a well known historical design.  In this case, it's a pair of night stands from a design by Gustav Stickley circa 1900.

Making pieces like these is gratifying for craftsmen like us because it provides a look into the thinking of the minds and the times when the Arts & Crafts Movement was young.  For example, craftsmen today often taper the legs of a piece to make it look lighter and more graceful.  Stickley's design did that as well.  But today, we're most likely to taper the insides of the legs, which gives a piece the appearance of a wider, more stable stance.  Stickley's design puts the taper on the outer sides of the legs, which, to us, makes the piece look like it's standing on tip toe.

One of the hallmarks of Arts & Crafts furniture is its utility.  Night stands just have to have drawers.

And there's never any doubt about the beauty of fumed quarter sawn white oak.

DesertCraftsmen is always willing to 'go to school' on the old masters, giving credit, and homage, where it's due.