Shaker Bentwood
Antique 19th Century Scandinavian Shaker Decorative Boxes
Bentwood
Early 20th Century Shaker Decorative Boxes
Bentwood, Paint
20th Century American Armchairs
Walnut
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1980s Dutch Post-Modern Armchairs
Steel
Antique 1820s English Regency Serving Bowls
Porcelain
Antique 1820s British Regency Serving Bowls
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Walnut
20th Century Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1960s Spanish Brutalist Stools
Wood
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Pottery
Earthenware, Creamware, Pottery
20th Century Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Armchairs
Leather
Early 20th Century Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Glass, Hardwood, Paint
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Serving Bowls
Porcelain
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Tables
Pine
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Decorative Baskets
Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Oak, Papercord
Vintage 1980s Philippine British Colonial Armchairs
Hide, Rattan
Late 20th Century European Side Chairs
Aluminum
Recent Sales
20th Century American Shaker Boxes
Bentwood, Wood
20th Century American Shaker Decorative Boxes
Maple, Birch
20th Century American Shaker Decorative Boxes
Copper
20th Century American Shaker Decorative Boxes
Copper
20th Century American Shaker Decorative Boxes
Copper
Antique Mid-19th Century American Shaker Decorative Boxes
Maple, Pine
Late 20th Century Shaker Decorative Boxes
Cedar
Antique 1860s American Shaker Decorative Baskets
Ash
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Barware
Brass
A Close Look at shaker Furniture
Authentic 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 honest, 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.
As you will see on 1stDibs, Shaker furniture and objects have a deep appeal for their warmth, honesty and graceful simplicity, which make them welcome almost anywhere.
Finding the Right decorative-objects for You
Every time you move into a house or an apartment — or endeavor to refresh the home you’ve lived in for years — life for that space begins anew. The right home accent, be it the simple placement of a decorative bowl on a shelf or a ceramic vase for fresh flowers, can transform an area from drab to spectacular. But with so many materials and items to choose from, it’s easy to get lost in the process. The key to styling with decorative objects is to work toward making a happy home that best reflects your personal style.
Ceramics are a versatile addition to any home. If you’ve amassed an assortment of functional pottery over the years, think of your mugs and salad bowls as decorative objects, ideal for displaying in a glass cabinet. Vintage ceramic serveware can pop along white open shelving in your dining area, while large stoneware pitchers paired with woven baskets or quilts in an open cupboard can introduce a rustic farmhouse-style element to your den.
Translucent decorative boxes or bowls made of an acrylic plastic called Lucite — a game changer in furniture that’s easy to clean and lasts long — are modern accents that are neutral enough to dress up a coffee table or desktop without cluttering it. If you’re showcasing pieces from the past, a vintage jewelry box for displaying your treasures can spark conversation. Where is the jewelry box from? Is there a story behind it?
Abstract sculptures or an antique vessel for your home library can draw attention to your book collection and add narrative charm to the most appropriate of corners. There’s more than one way to style your bookcases, and decorative objects add a provocative dynamic. “I love magnifying glasses,” says Alex Assouline, global vice president of luxury publisher Assouline, of adding one’s cherished objects to a home library. “They are both useful and decorative. Objects really elevate libraries and can also make them more personal.”
To help with personalizing your space and truly making it your own, find an extraordinary collection of decorative objects on 1stDibs.