Seneca Bench

Benchcrafted is pleased to introduce the Seneca Bench, based on the original benches used in the churches of the historic seven Amana Colonies, east central Iowa. Rarely photographed or documented outside the religious spaces of the Community of True Inspiration, these benches were built in Ebeneezer, New York around 1850 by German craftsmen; members themselves of the communal group which would eventually move to Iowa and found the Amana Colonies in 1855.

We’ve spent the past several years researching the history, construction, and legacy of these benches, and are now offering them for the first time since the originals were built around 170 years ago.

All of our Seneca Benches are built at the Amana Furniture and Clock Shop in historic Amana, Iowa, just a stone’s throw from where the original benches reside and are still used regularly by church members.

Four legs of hard maple are joined to the seat with individually hand-fit tapered tenons that pass entirely through hardwood battens that are joined to the seat with sliding dovetails. The legs’ tenons are then kerfed and wedged from above, the planed flush. The very act of sitting on the bench constantly forces the joint tighter over time. And the wedge keeps it locked in place during seasonal changes. The two splats that support the back rail are joined to the undercarriage with massive through tenons that pass entirely through the dovetailed battens, keyed into the back edge of the seat, and are glued and wedged from below with a cross peg. Finally, the tenons themselves come to rest on the back of the rear legs which creates an incredibly strong triangulated joint. Each component exploits the strongest aspects of the wood and uses it to great effect. The back rail marries up to the two splats with a large mortise and tenon which is then drawbored together with oak pegs.

Staked furniture is renowned for being incredibly strong despite its simplicity. The Seneca Bench is no different. Entirely constructed with traditional robust joinery, the Seneca Bench will last your lifetime, and likely those of your great grandchildren. The originals are still going strong after 170 years!