What Is Shaker Style Furniture?

The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, often called "Shakers" because of their rituals of shouting, dancing and speaking in tongues, was a religious sect in the United States in the 1800s. Their communal lifestyle was an experiment in separation from the world. The Shakers believed in complete celibacy, so the order eventually died out except for 1 small Shaker community in Maine today. Shakers are best known for their furniture craftsmanship, with its simple and distinctive lines. Today, authentic Shaker furniture brings high prices in antique markets and good reproductions are popular.

Shaker History

The Shaker sect originally developed in Great Britain under Ann Lee, later referred to by members as "Mother Ann." After marriage and the death of 4 babies, Mother Ann came to believe that the root of all evil was sexual intercourse. She began to preach celibacy in marriage and, in 1774, led a group of followers to America. The Shakers believe in living simply and believed everything they did symbolized prayer to God. This was reflected in all their belongings, especially the furniture that today is seen as an artistic and beautiful form of craftsmanship.

Simple and Elegant

The Shakers believed in plain living and utility of objects. They loved to build and were perfectionists. Shakers saw every piece of furniture they designed and built as a way of serving God. Their furniture was simple and elegant with clean lines and no decorative or elaborate embellishments. Each item of furniture had a designated use. There was no furniture built simply for home décor. The Shakers typically used pine or other inexpensive wood for furniture. Even though all their furniture was simple, it is still possible to see differences in furniture from the different Shaker communities. Their invention of the circular saw revolutionized furniture production not only in the United States, but around the world.

Shaker Chairs

The Shakers are known for their tape seat ladder-back chairs. For these chairs, they used inexpensive cotton tape to weave the seats. They used a flat needle, which they invented, to weave the tape together to make the seats. Tape was sometimes used to weave the backs of chairs, also. The Shakers began mass production of ladder-back chairs in the late 1800s and even received a medal at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia for their chair design.

Shaker Tables

Shaker tables are lightweight and simple. They often took the trestle design and changed its ornate and heavy style into a beautiful pine table that stayed away from fussiness. Many Shaker tables reflect a farmhouse style, with simple legs and no carving or detail.

Authentic Shaker Furniture

Interest in the Shaker lifestyle and especially the furniture remains high in the United States today. A living history museum, Hancock Shaker Village, in Pittsfield, Mass., is a good example of the Shaker lifestyle and authentic Shaker furniture.