Mission Bench

"Mission" furniture originated in the late 19th cent. and refers mainly to the pieces made for the Spanish missions in California.  The main focus with Mission furniture is that it always seeks to accentuate the grain and to tease out the natural beauty of the timber.  You won't see much by way of inlay work, nor will you see contrasting woods.  Flat panels are a common feature so that the grain patterns are fully appreciated.  I was fortunate to have had some leftover African Ribbon Mahogany following my hutch project.  While quatersawn oak was typically the wood of choice for Mission craftsman, I thought ARM would lend itself very well to the style.  A simple treatment with linseed oil supplied the finish.