What Is a Mission Chair?

Characteristics

• The mission chair and mission style furniture are characterized by their rustic appearance and tall, straight lines. The mission chair typically has a high back that consists of a series of wooden slats with a small space in between each slat.

Materials

• While the first mission chairs were made from high-quality solid oak, today manufacturers who are looking to cut costs may also manufacture mission chairs from pressboard or laminate.

Basis

• Based on a chair that was designed for the New Jerusalem Church in San Francisco, the style of the mission chair was influenced by the Spanish missions that helped inspire the name.

History

• The term "mission furniture" was first coined by Joseph McHugh, who manufactured and sold furniture in New York City. The popularity of mission style furniture and the mission chair flourished around the turn of the century as designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright used the mission chair in his designs.

Categorization

• While the mission style and subsequently the mission chair was an original style, in later years this mission style was incorporated into the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau design styles.