Shaker Furniture Characteristics
Simplicity, quality and usefulness were hallmarks of Shaker furniture from the religious sect's beginnings more than 200 years ago. Although the Shaker sect has died out, the distinctive furniture style they created still inspires designers and homeowners today.
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History
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In 1821, the Shakers outlined both their beliefs and their principles of design in a document called the Millennial Laws. These rules called for no unnecessary or fanciful ornamentation and required that every item have a purpose.
Types
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Shakers designed and made furniture for all kinds of uses, including chairs, chests of drawers, bookcases, beds, cupboards and tables. They also created smaller items such as boxes, chests, stools and brooms.
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Woods
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Solid maple, birch, pine, chestnut and butternut were among the most popular woods used in Shaker furniture. Some Victorian-era Shaker pieces made for public sale featured veneers and faux wood-grain finishes.
Design Elements
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Shaker furniture features straight, uniform lines with no carvings or moldings. Shakers used tenon and mortise joinery or dovetailing rather than nails or screws to put pieces together.
Colors and Stains
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Shaker furniture is often finished with a light varnish or stain that brings out the natural color and pattern of the wood. The Shakers also painted their furnishings vibrant colors, including red, yellow and green.
Ladderback Chair
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Perhaps the best-known example of Shaker furniture is the ladder-back chair, named for the flat panels that make up the seat back. The chair also has a seat made with interlaced cloth tape and legs that are slightly rounded.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creative Commons, Scott Clark, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lighttable/3011175613/
