Shaker Furniture: An Overview

The Shaker Tradition

The dictionary defines Shaker furniture as:

“A type of furniture made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by the Shakers, a religious sect in New York State and later in New England. The designs were functional and plain. Built-ins were characteristic.”

“Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the Shakers, an offshoot of the Religious Society of Friends (or Quakers)”

Whether it's a bookcase or a desk, a chair or a table, Shaker furniture is characterized by being free of unnecessary ornamentation. For the Shakers, good design rested solely upon utility. Tradition has it that the first Shaker style furniture was made around 1780; authentic records of the first sale date from 1789. Shaker furniture is widely admired for its simplicity, innovative joinery, quality, and functionality. Shaker designs were inspired by the ascetic religious beliefs of the Society.

Collections of Shaker furniture appear in many Art Museums in the United States and England. Its appeal to the modern eye is undeniable and the underlying principles of Shaker design have given inspiration to some of the finest designers of modern furniture.

Shaker furniture with its clear crisp lines and singular lightness fit equally well into a modern interior or more traditional setting. It's not surprising, then, that generations of modern woodworkers have studied and reproduced the austere yet functional style of this religious sect founded in the 18th century. You'll discover that the simplicity of Shaker furniture makes it not only beautiful, but also easy to assemble
If you also want to try out this old tradition and craftsmanship, here are some basic pieces of information to help get you started.