Stickley

By Alicia Hatton, C/O The Oregon Vintage Times, 5 West 38th Ave., Eugene, OR. 97405

The L. and J.G. Stickley furniture Company produced a wide variety of mission pieces, much of it representing the best aspects of the Arts & Crafts movement in the United States. In terms of structural honesty, simplicity of design and high quality it was unsurpassed. In 1902 the company began operations in Fayetteville near Syracuse, New York. Leopold (1869-1957) and John George (1871-1921) were younger brothers of Gustav Stickley who manufactured his own mission furniture in nearby Eastwood. Leopold received his training from Gustav; J.G. was trained by yet another brother, Albert, of Stickley Brothers in Grand rapids, Michigan. L. and J.G. opened the Onondaga Shops, named after their county. The furniture was well received and the brothers expanded to adjacent land. At the Grand Rapids Furniture Exhibition in 1905 they presented their “Arts and Crafts and Simple Furniture Built on Mission Lines.” Being widely accepted, they soon published their first catalog with prices. Early Onondaga pieces resembled those of brother Gustav. He made more changes in his designs, issuing new catalogues and prices regularly. Gustav’s company went bankrupt before 1920 and he then, for a short time, worked for L. and J.G., who seemed more cautious and slower to change design. Also helping them dramatically was their innovation about 1910, of the inner spring cushion. America was ready for this, and it became their mainstay through the 1920’s. Moreover, machine production helped standardize their work producing honest pieces efficiently joined and incredibly strong. This furniture reflected a philosophic statement the Stickley’s claimed as “Entirely American,” representing honest construction through hard work. In changing with the times, Americans eagerly accepted their machine construction. Leopold outlived J.G. and stopped producing Arts & Crafts in 1923. He made other styles and later sold the company, still allowing it to be called “L and J.G. Stickley,” Which produced furniture into the 1980’s. The Mission Style is again very popular, even being revived at new store outlets. The solid oak, framed pieces with labels or stamps are a real treasure for antique shoppers to find, as the wide spread popularity makes originals rather scarce and very valuable.

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