Full Length Mirror By Coolican

Authentic antique Shaker furniture is hard to come by, but not exceedingly rare. “Shaker style” describes furnishings and interiors that are both warm and simple, centered on unpretentious wooden chairs, tables and cabinets without ornament or embellishment. 

The term derives from the popular name for an all-but-vanished American religious sect, whose members crafted modest household furniture and objects as part of their belief in purposeful living and simplicity in all things.

Members of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing — called Shakers, derisively, because they writhed and danced in religious ecstasy during worship — arrived in the United States from England in 1774. Within 50 years, the sect had established 19 self-sufficient communities from Maine to Kentucky, where they lived pure, humble and industrious lives.

The furniture and objects the Shakers made reflected their strict rules of behavior. Pieces such as ladder- and slat-back chairs and trestle tables were painstakingly crafted from native woods like maple and cherry, using traditional methods such as mortise-and-tenon and dovetail joinery and lathe turning. They employed strong, straight lines and symmetrical proportions, and decoration of any kind — carving, veneers, inlays — was prohibited, as it would encourage the sins of pride and vanity.

The Shakers movement included some 6,000 members at its peak in the 1860s, but the group practiced celibacy and could attempt to sustain their flock only by recruiting new adherents. Modernity proved too alluring. Today only one tiny Shaker community, in Maine, still exists, though the sect’s heritage is preserved at several historical sites.

To support their communities, the Shakers sold furniture to outsiders, who appreciated its superb quality. While the “Shaker style” label is today given to many plain, simple wooden pieces, it should also denote superior construction and solid materials. As elements in interior design, Shaker furnishings work best in a quiet decor. Modest pieces such as these can become lost among more ornate works. The style is most suitable to a country home — although a Shaker chair or cabinet can make a striking counterpoint in a modernist, urban setting.

Shaker furniture and objects have a deep appeal for their warmth, honesty and graceful simplicity, which make them welcome almost anywhere.

Find antique Shaker furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Bringing antique and vintage floor mirrors and full-length mirrors into your home is a no-brainer. The right mirror in the bedroom, bathroom and by the door in your home’s entryway — for last-minute accessorizing, of course — can make all the difference.

However, knowing where to strategically place your mirror can help illuminate your interior design choices and add a glamorous accent to any room.

A large beveled floor mirror can add depth to a space — particularly if you’re working with small rooms. It can echo the contour lines of wall paneling and make a bedroom appear larger than it is. Both floor mirrors and full-length mirrors create a window-like effect, reflecting light and brightening the room. Hanging a large mirror opposite a window will flood a room with natural light and engender a feeling of spaciousness.

Consider the placement of a mirror in the room: Displaying vases, boxes and other decorative objects in front of a mirror reflects these items, drawing attention to a prized collection and emphasizing their visual qualities for dramatic effect.

A large antique wall mirror or celebrated iconic design such as Paul Evans’s Patchwork mirror or the flashy, sensuous Ultrafragola mirror created by Ettore Sottsass can be positioned as the focal point in a living room or dining room.

When your mirror isn’t the star of the show, it can be used to enhance a focal point. Hang abstract art — a grouping of paintings or drawings, perhaps — on the wall opposite the mirror to establish narrative character in a space and create an intriguing color pattern.

It is important to consider the size, shape and frame of a mirror. Most full-length mirrors have a traditional rectangular shape, but postmodern mirrors may offer more variety. For a mirror that makes a bold statement, Art Deco mirrors typically feature geometrically pronounced frames that stand out in a room.

Add light to your interiors while providing an artistic accent to any room. Browse the selection of antique and vintage floor mirrors and full-length mirrors on 1stDibs today.