Crafting a Better Way for 125 Years

In a 1906 article in The Craftsman, you’ll find as good a summary of the Arts and Crafts philosophy as there is, written by Gustav Stickley himself: “…not the mere idea of doing things by hand, but the putting of thought, care, and individuality into the task of making honestly and well something that satisfies a real need.” He goes on to put the artisan squarely at the center of the picture, yet at the same time rejects the notion that modern machinery is a betrayal of craftsmanship.

…given the real need for production and the fundamental desire for honest self-expression, the machine can be put to all its legitimate uses as an aid to, and a preparation for, the work of the hand, and the result be quite as vital and satisfying as the best work of the hand alone.
– G. Stickley, "The Use and Abuse of Machinery, and its Relation to the Arts and Crafts”

From its earliest days 125 years ago, Stickley furniture had craftsmanship at its core, and embraced all methods—from old-world joinery to new technology—that made it easier and better.

The work of the hand

Both Gustav and Leopold Stickley relied on a combination of traditional hand-crafting and new techniques, and it’s a point of pride at today’s L. & J.G. Stickley that this is still the case across all three of our wholly owned plants. Dressers, cabinets, and other case pieces are still individually assembled and fitted by hand to ensure stability and smooth function; when completed, fitters proudly stamp their initials permanently onto the piece as a testament to their handiwork.

 

While initial sanding is machine-aided, hand-sanding is essential to the final preparation of surfaces, smoothing edges and corners and perfecting fine details that machines cannot. Likewise, hand-rubbed finishes add to the unique luster of our highly prized Mission furniture.

Drawing on our expertise with wood, our highly skilled artisans create intricate marquetry and inlay designs inspired by the work of Harvey Ellis, using palettes of raw and dyed woods in place of metals. And talented men and women still spend painstaking hours hand-carving the exquisite details found on many pieces.


 

Indispensable tools

As Gustav Stickley reminded us in The Craftsman, the demands of production often require the aid of machinery, and we take full advantage of both vintage and modern tools and technology to improve speed, quality, and efficiency. At the point where raw lumber enters the factory, a Rip First machine (above left) uses x-rays and optical scans to detect internal and external defects and trim them away. A double-end tenoner uses lasers to measure and place precise cuts for tenons, so crucial to our joinery.

 

Two types of CNC (“computer numerical control”) routers use a combination of human operators and computer technology to cut notches, drill holes, cut tenons, and more; these machines can even swap out their own tool bits automatically to complete a series of programmed tasks. Our remarkable Bacci routers are able to complete 5-axis operations combining all of these functions!

There are many steps en route to a completed piece of Stickley furniture, and along the way, each piece is touched by the hands of many artisans, from master craftsmen to young people honing their skills. While machines are used as “a tool in the hand of a skilled worker,” Stickley craftsmanship is still very much a meaningful human accomplishment.

Adapted from “Crafting a Better Way,” Inside Stickley blog, September 2021.

Additional sources:

Stickley, Gustav. "The Use and Abuse of Machinery, and its Relation to the Arts and Crafts." The Craftsman 11, No 2, November 1906, pages 202-07.

Amanda Clifford, Director, The Stickley Museum

Thomas Q. Graham, Quality Manager