Shaker furniture

Shaker furniture derived from the beliefs and practices of a religious group that was never particularly numerous and which only had a relatively short lifespan as an active movement. However, the artefacts which its members produced, particularly their furniture, have had a lasting appeal. Indeed, they have influenced and inspired many later designers, especially those of a functional and minimalist turn of mind.

The origin of the Shakers, or “Shaking Quakers”, was in 18^th century England when a young Quaker woman, Ann Lee, founded a small sect of her own, the members of which emigrated to the Colonies in 1774. They set up a community at Watervliet, New York, where they could farm and practice their religion. Other communities were later established, although at their height, in around 1860, the Shakers only had some 6,000 members.

At the heart of Shaker belief was simplicity, austerity and hard work, with little room for frivolity and certainly none for luxury. Pleasures were few and far between, “letting go” being confined to the music and dancing of their religious celebrations, which is where the “Shaker” nickname originated. One pleasure they denied themselves was sexual intercourse, even in marriage, so families could only be formed by adoption. Many Shakers of later generations had been orphans who were adopted and brought up by members of the sect.

Shaker furniture reflects these beliefs not only in its pure functionality and lack of decoration but also in its excellent workmanship. “Mother Ann” had stated: “Do all your work as though you had a thousand years to live, and as you know you must die tomorrow”. This meant that, whether a Shaker was baking a loaf or making a chair, the result had to be as close to perfection as possible. This attention to quality is one reason why so much Shaker furniture has survived to the present day.

Another reason is that the relatively small number of Shaker craftsmen did not confine themselves to making pieces for the use of their own community. The items they made, particularly chairs, were not only well-made but, because they used only as much wood as was essential to the construction, cheap to make. Thousands were therefore sold outside the Shaker settlements, throughout much of the 19^th century.

Mother Ann’s stipulations virtually dictated the Shaker style: “Whatever is fashioned, let it be plain and simple, unembellished by any superfluities that add nothing to its goodness or durability.” This meant that carving, inlays and veneers were out, and turning (on a lathe) was only used for functional purposes. The items made were limited to what was actually needed in a home, namely chairs, tables, stands, beds, cupboards, chests and clocks. Shakers believed in cleanliness, so the furniture was made to be easily moved in order that rooms could be swept frequently.

The typical Shaker side chair was of a ladder-back design with three slats, these being flat at the base and rounded at the top, also slightly concave to fit the user’s back. A double set of box-stretchers on the legs provided structural soundness, and the seat was of woven rushes or tapes. The only concession to decoration was an acorn-shaped finial at the top of the rear uprights. One design of side chair enabled the back to be tipped backwards without the feet leaving the floor. Most chairs were made from maple, although birch, cherry and other woods were also used.

Despite the overall austerity of Shaker life, they were not ascetics and the craftsmen did seek to make their furniture comfortable, at least by the standards of the day. A notable item of Shaker construction was the rocking chair, five different types of which can be identified. Shaker designers were particularly inventive, and some rocking chairs were made with drawers incorporated in the arms so that elderly Shaker women could have their sewing things close at hand. Many rocking chairs were made for sale to outsiders, and can sometimes be found with the original label in place to indicate its size, these varying from “1” to “8” to suit the size of the buyer.

Chests were made with simple, moulded edges and turned wooden knobs, as brass (etc) handles would have been ostentatious.  However, wrought-iron was used for catches on cupboard doors and for hinges. There was no call for huge chests, such as the “highboy”, because Shakers were limited in what they were allowed to possess and thus each member only needed a few drawers and cupboards. Shaker chests are therefore typically either five feet high with four full-width and four half-width drawers, or three feet high with three full-width and two half-width drawers. Some chests were made with drop-leaf tops so that they could double as tables.

Shaker dining tables are less likely to be encountered because Shakers ate communally at one long table, with men and women eating at different sittings. As these tables, of a trestle type with a shoe foot and underbracing, were typically eight feet long, they are not particularly suited to modern homes. However, one example that has survived is twenty feet long!

Although tables are scarce survivals, small round and square-topped stands are encountered far more frequently. These were required furniture in Shaker homes, with the rules stating that “one or two stands should be provided for the occupants of every retiring-room”. Stands were adapted for use in workrooms, with drawers underneath the top, and as candlestands and washstands.

Shaker beds were always single beds; with sex being off the menu there was no call for doubles! The common width was three feet, and they had a simple headboard and footboard. They were provided with wooden castors so that they could be moved for cleaning purposes. A concession to comfort was made with the provision of lightweight slats that would “give” with the body and could be easily replaced if they broke.

Some excellent child’s cots have survived, these being on rockers so that an adoptive mother could settle a crying child while lying in bed.

Although Shaker life and culture is now only of historical interest, with a number of their homes and settlements having been preserved, pieces of their furniture still appear for sale from time to time and are likely to command good prices. More importantly, perhaps, several aspects of their design have been imitated by later designers and incorporated in modern lifestyles where simplicity and good workmanship, without sacrificing comfort, are valued.

© John Welford