Final answer:
Pennsylvania Dutch furniture was primarily crafted by Amish and Mennonite communities, known for their skilled cabinetmaking, using techniques such as mortise and joinery and dovetails to create functional and durable pieces. The correct option is (b)
Step-by-step explanation:
Pennsylvania Dutch furniture was crafted by Amish and Mennonite communities. During the 18th century, the demand for fine furniture created a new class of artisans, skilled cabinetmakers, who crafted pieces for various households and plantation manors. Using tools such as axes, chisels, mallets, saws, and planes, these craftsmen worked with various types of wood such as oak, mahogany, cherry, and walnut, utilizing techniques like mortise and tenon joints and dovetails to create durable furniture. The Pennsylvania Dutch, including the Amish and Mennonites, as well as other German Protestant migrants who valued a pious and communal lifestyle, were among these skilled artisans. Notably, these communities' approach to furniture making reflected their values of functionality, durability, and simplicity, which have become hallmarks of Pennsylvania Dutch craftsmanship.