Bridging the centuries.

Thomasville's major new American Revival collection draws design and manufacturing cues from turn-of-the-century craftsmen, while its flair, functions and finish are geared for 21st century homes.

A good many of us have Gus Stickley to thank for our jobs. The-turn-of-the-century craftsman paved the way for today's furniture industry by coordinating furniture design with machine technology. His was the first popular "modern" furniture in the United States - its straight lines and lack of carvings were ideal for mass production.

Earlier, the Arts & Crafts Movement that originated in Victorian England as a backlash to the Industrial Revolution had rejected machine-made goods because of their "dehumanizing" effect on factory workers. English reformer John Ruskin advocated that a piece of furniture be made by one man from beginning to end, to assure the dignity of labor. Because of Gustav Stickley's efforts, however, the movement took a different turn in the United States. Stickley reconciled Arts & Crafts philosophy, machine technology and factory production to become one of the first machine-age furniture designers. Using machines for repetitive and laborious tasks freed men for fine, distinctive furniture assembly, he said. Furniture from Stickley's Craftsman Workshops today is considered classic American design.

A confirmation of Arts & Crafts

The preceding brings us in a roundabout way to Thomasville Furniture Industries and its introduction last fall of the American Revival Collection, which claims design roots in Arts & Crafts style. American Revival was in its second cutting in January and is being placed in stores across the country.

Thomasville tracked the market for some time before introducing this major collection in the popular style. "What we saw were some pretty strict interpretations," said Guy Walters, vice president, general manager product styling and development. "We wanted to go beyond the plain boxy look, the heavy dark wood, sharp edges and heavy hardware, and to come up with a sellable interpretation.

"We chose the name American Revival because it does revive the innovative design work of some of our most talented American artisans and architects - the Stickleys, Greene and Greene and Frank Lloyd Wright," Waiters added. "Clean, rectilinear lines typical of the Arts & Crafts era occur consistently throughout the collection."

Challenging the shop

Production of American Revival also confirms Stickley's methods wherein the design, manufacture and assembly of a piece of furniture became an integrated process. Production coordinator Steve Underwood said the design team worked very closely with production workers. "This is a joint venture, with them as partners," Underwood said. "They live and die by what they have to make."

As the collection evolved into more than 100 pieces, the Thomasville design team became particularly concerned about handling the extra large poster/canopy and high-back panel beds. The designers said they knew the look was right but wanted to make sure the furniture would work from a plant standpoint. "The plant superintendents would come in or we'd go down to Plant A where the bedroom pieces were to be run, while we worked it all out," said Ed Tobin, designer. This was a give-and-take design process that took about a year, Tobin said.

The number one challenge was in the finishing room where rack systems had to be modified for the weight and size of the beds. Headboards were so top heavy that they tipped and took the pallets over as well until a brace was built and screwed to both bed and pallet. Seven pallets are required to move the poster bed through the line, according to Mike Jolly, plant manager. Panels are removed and "it is finished in separate parts - KD-style," Jolly said.

A pod press is used to add a lattice overlay to the 5 1/2-foot-high paneled headboard of the Aurora bed, Jolly said, adding, "It looks like a jigsaw puzzle going together." Two people glue up the parts and lay in the panel, a third person does the guiding and another back nails, a process that produces 15 beds an hour.

Coming full circle

While its inspiration may lie in the Craftsman style of the early 20th century, Thomasville's all new, 120-piece American Revival is "for families ready to decorate 21st century homes," Waiters said. "The criteria for what is beautiful - simple, functional and natural - has come full circle. We're at the same point again," Waiters added, "with a new century about to begin.

"We have captured the feeling of Arts & Crafts, and taken it one step further by making it less stark and utilitarian and a lot more livable. Its finish livens interiors rather than darkens them. We think people will feel very comfortable with it."

Other distinctive characteristics include the furniture's shaped tops and posts, raised panel drawers and door overlays. The rectilinear lattice overlay appears on bedroom, dining and living room pieces and home theater and wall systems. The combination of natural elements - oak, granite, metal and leather - adds to the collection's eclectic character. The finish is Sunlit Oak, pale golden oak lightly glazed with white.

Among the outstanding pieces in the collection are:

* A triple-door Bungalow Wardrobe with a full-length beveled mirror on its center door. The interior can be fitted to accommodate electronic equipment or clothing.

* Architect's Clock Chest. A five-drawer dressing chest is topped off with a three-tray silverware or jewelry cupboard concealed behind the clock face.

* A tambour rolltop desk scaled as a lady's writing desk to create a brand new look for an old-fashioned piece.