Shaker style design is simplicity at its best. With clean lines, this furniture is as easy on the eyes as it is comfortable. When one admires a piece of Shaker craftsmanship, one cannot help but wonder at its beauty, while at the same time marvel at the exquisite construction and innovative joinery used to create such a masterpiece.
Who Were the Shakers?
The Shakers is a name given to The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, a religious offshoot of the Protestant church that first formed in England in the 1740s. The group was centered around the ideal of perfection both in the individual and in created objects. As the American colonies were established, the Shakers came to America to flee persecution and set up communities in rural areas.
Shakers were craftsmen in the truest sense of the word. Not only did they create furniture, they invented washing machines with powered agitators and were the first to package seeds from their gardens to sell to the public. They were also among the first in their areas to purchase automobiles and hook up electricity to their homes. Counting all the giant technological steps the Shaker society made or was involved in, it is quite amazing that their craftsmanship-when it came to the furniture they created-was some of the least complicated in history. Shaker furniture never needed additional decoration or embellishments; instead, they allowed their simplistic designs to say it all.
Functional Furniture
Ease of use and minimal clutter were central concepts of Shaker design. Perfection arose from careful attention to detail, proportion and lines. No space is wasted and no ornamentation can be found. Unlike the gothic and baroque schools that emphasized elaborate decoration, Shaker furniture has a simplicity of line and style more reminiscent of the modernist movement of the mid 20th century.
The use of traditional materials and handworked craftsmanship gives Shaker furniture a warmth that machine-made modernist pieces can't match, making it a good fit for any decorating theme that emphasizes a cozy and inviting feel.
In a 1986 article in the Chicago Sun-Times, "A Spiritual Element Gives Special Appeal to Shaker Furniture," John Dorsey bowed to the spiritual pull that is ingrained in every piece of Shaker furniture. Mr. Dorsey praised the workmanship by writing, "What Mozart did for music, the Shakers did for furniture."
Prized Pieces
The Shakers had a gift when it came to tables and chairs. Nearly everything they used in their homes was handmade and functional. Since the days of the first original Shaker-made furniture, their workmanship has been the inspiration for many other craftsmen and furniture manufacturers. These days, it's exceedingly difficult to find an original Shaker chair or table, unless you happen to be standing in a museum or are very lucky to stumble upon an original in an antique shop. Original Shaker pieces are also costly, approaching authentic Federalist furniture in price.
Because other manufacturers have picked up their ideas, furniture-Shaker style in design, at least-can still be found and brought into your home. An original Shaker rocking chair might run you about $4,000, whereas a duplicate of the original would only set you back about $300.
Incorporating Shaker Furniture
To start with, jot down some of your favorite things. For instance, do you knit or crochet? If so, add that to your list. Then find out what types of things the Shakers had in their homes. After you have both lists compiled, compare notes and figure out what items you could mesh together well.
If you're going for a full Shaker look, you'll need to completely redo the room using the color patterns they enjoyed, even going so far as to locate the "Meeting House Blue" color they created by mixing blueberries with indigo and sage blossoms. If you're only looking for a dash of Shaker style, here are some ways to begin:
Room Design
Each room was designed with a specific purpose in mind. Furniture was sleek with little distraction. Colors were kept to a minimum, and flat surfaces were painted a grass green, perhaps to mimic the outdoors. Ceilings were open with rustic beams exposed. Most beams were sanded smooth, even those hidden in barn walls.
Shakers approached room design in the same way a master painter would approach a canvas. Nothing was left to chance, nothing was assumed good enough to get by. Everything was done to perfection, including things that aren't seen, such as the interior of closets.
Shaker rooms favor furniture placed against the walls, creating a large open space in the center, with the exception of dining rooms, where the table occupies the center of the room. The Shakers had few possessions, and what they owned was stored neatly out of sight. Instead of shelves to hold objects, a Shaker room would have large bureaus or dressers.
Apart from a small painting or a handmade sampler, a Shaker room has no decoration on the walls. A few books on an end table, a simple vase with seasonal flowers or a basket holding fresh fruit-all functional things-are about as elaborate as true Shaker interior design gets.
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