The Russian Mennonite Furniture Tradition

Mennonites had a tradition of interesting hand made folk
furniture.  After several hundred years of social isolation and
close community, Mennonite furniture evolved into several
standard pieces with almost identical designs from village to
village in Russia.  These were known by their Plautdietsch names:

Akjschaup – a wall mounted corner cabinet

Bad, or Loage – a pull-out bed

Desch – a table

Glasschaup – a china cabinet with glazed doors

Kjleedaschaup – a wardrobe

Kjist – a dowry chest

Miaschaup – a wall corner cabinet

Ruebenkj – a settee, literally, a resting bench

Schlopbenkj – a pull-out sleeping settee

Stool  – a chair

Waej – an infant cradle

In the houses of the wealthy land-owners furniture was often
beautifully inlaid. In the homes of the poorer agrarian villagers,
furniture was painted and faux grained to look like inlaid work.  On
top of this graining colorful flowers and verses were sometimes
painted, as well.
Kjist
Bad  in the daytime.
Schlopbenkj in the daytime.
Schlopbenkj made into a bed for night.
Ruebenkj
Waej or Cradle
Kjleedaschaup
Mennonite furniture makers continued the tradition in Kansas until the early 20th century.  Thereafter, as the
old furniture makers passed away the craft slowly disappeared.
A typical Mennonite made Desch or
table, and a hand-made chair.