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.
Shaker Storage Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, finely crafted bentwood cedar Shaker style storage or decorative box, circa late-20th century, American. Box is a rich brown cedar wood tacked with hand forged brass nai...
Brass
Vintage Primitive "Hermès Orange" Painted Wood Storage Box with Original Patina
By Shaker Style
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Primitive Table Top Painted Wood Storage Box with Lid in "Hermès Orange" with Original Patina - Artist Unknown "a treasure to keep all of your other treasures in" "new felt ...
Wood
19th Century Chrome Yellow Shaker Box with Original Surface
By Shakers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oval Shaker box in chrome yellow paint with four swallowtail joints. Northeastern United States, 19th century. Completely original, dry, untouched surface. Measurements: 3 1/8” ...
Maple, Pine
American Mission Bronze Spider Web Filigree Box, Hand-Crafted, USA
Located in Queens, NY
American Mission Tiffany rectangular bronze spider web filigree box with glass panel interior
Bronze
Large Antique Shaker Box, Trunk in Bentwood, 19th Century Scandinavia
Located in Esbjerg, DK
God only knows what this large bentwood Trunk has been through. It has scuffs, ware and patina all-over. Yet it is still very useable, stabile and decor...
Bentwood
19th Century New England Bentwood Green Pantry Box with Crackled Texture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Lidded pantry box with original deep aqua-green painted surfaces - further darkened by natural patina that it appears almost black (New England, USA, 19th Century). Steamed and bentw...
Metal
Wooden Hand Crafted French Art Deco Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Acquired in Paris France, a very unique and well made box. The rounded ribbed sides and pull on the lid are very well thought out, with an aluminum detail on the sides. A complimen...
Aluminum
19th Century Graduated Stack of Paint Decorated Pantry Boxes
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Graduated Stack of Paint Decorated Pantry Boxes, circa 1880, comprising five shaved splint bentwood pantry boxes with straight overlaps fastened via wooden pegs, in late...
Wood
$475 / item
H 2.37 in W 13.39 in D 10.24 in
AIMARA Hand-Crafted Alpaca Silver Box by Studio AIREDELSUR
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design of alpaca boxes and picture frames of this family, whose name comes from the tribe that dwelled in the North Argenti...
Metal, Sheet Metal
18th Century Original Blue Painted Swedish Wood Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted blue pine wood box from the countryside of Sweden. Based on the flower decoration style, probably from Centre-North Sweden. The Rococo-period in the Folk A...
Iron
$875 / item
H 3.15 in W 13.39 in D 10.24 in
Hand-Crafted Alpaca Silver & Agate Stone Box by AIREDELSUR
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Misiones agate & alpaca silver collection is inspired in our Iguazu falls were we get this beautiful stone. In our boxes and photoframes the star is a big natural piece of this b...
Stone, Agate, Metal
$284
H 3.15 in W 7.49 in D 5.12 in
Victorian Decorative or Jewelry Box, in Wood, England, 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is a jewelry box or a decorative box. It was made in the 19th century, in England, Victorian Period. Its lid is made in wood, brown in color.
Metal
19th Century Original Swedish Blue Pine Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish blue pine box from Hälsingland in northern Sweden. The box is from the 19th century and likely from the village Norrala. The box was likely a friargåva, a gift given...
Pine
19th Century Original Grey Painted Large Candle Box from New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic 19th century original grey painted handmade large scale candle box from New England .This wonderful slide top box has such great personality and great construction. It is e...
Pine
Malachite Box Butterfly and Lake Italian Hand Crafted Gemstone Box
Located in Somis, CA
This stunning Italian crafted natural malachite box is distinguished by its exceptionally complex and painterly patterning. Most captivating formation is the image on the lid of a la...
Malachite
Large 19th Century Tortoiseshell Sewing Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large 19th Century Tortoiseshell Sewing Box
Tortoise Shell
19th Century Victorian Box
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A Victorian dresser box. Beautiful decoration.
Paper
Natural Malachite Box Waves, Hand-Crafted Gemstone Box Italy
Located in Somis, CA
An absolutely beautiful box, crafted from genuine natural malachite. Uncommonly light in color, this rare specimen displays intricate layers of swirling patterns that captivate the e...
Malachite
Silver Painted Wooden Pagoda Storage Box
Located in Stamford, CT
Custom silver painted wooden pagoda box. Three tiered storage compartments plus pagoda finial lid. No makers mark.
Wood
$475 / item
H 2.37 in W 13.39 in D 10.24 in
AIMARA Hand-Crafted Alpaca Silver Box by Studio AIREDELSUR
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design of alpaca boxes and picture frames of this family, whose name comes from the tribe that dwelled in the North Argenti...
Metal, Sheet Metal
19th Century Small Pantry Box with Original Lid
Located in Louisville, KY
This beautifully constructed circular pantry box from the late 19th century is indeed a unique find. It's smaller size makes it particularly unusual. Typically found in one's pantry ...
Wood
Cedar Storage Boxes
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of three (3) finely crafted bentwood cedar Shaker style (nesting) storage or decorative boxes, circa late-20th century, American. Boxes, each made of beautiful, grain...
Brass
6 Pc, Vintage Maple Stacked Set of Shaker Nesting Boxes
Located in Atlanta, GA
American, 20th century, A finely crafted set of 6 Shaker storage boxes. Each box made of beautiful grained maple wood and tacked with hand forged iron nails. Boxes range from 3" w (...
Maple
Sold
H 4.25 in W 10 in D 7 in
6 Vintage G. Loyd Handmade Bentwood Cedar Nesting Pantry Boxes Shaker Primitive
Located in Dayton, OH
Set of 6 vintage oval, bentwood cedar Shaker / folk art style, nesting pantry boxes. Signed G. Loyd. Largest - 10” x 7” x 4.25” / Smallest - 3.75” x 2.375” x 1.375” (Width x Depth...
Cedar
Sold
H 3 in W 5.25 in D 7.5 in
7 Antique & Vintage Painted Folk Art Bentwood Boxes Shaker Pantry Storage
Located in Dayton, OH
Seven vintage and antique 20th century Shaker style miniature bentwood boxes painted in a variety of colors, two forming the image of a Halloween j...
Bentwood, Paint
Antique American Table Top Shaker Spice Box circa 1800’s
Located in Wilmington, DE
Antique Shaker Spice Box Offered is a unique antique Shaker spice box. The piece is from the 1800’s. The piece features a lift up lid as well a single drawer. The drawer is divide...
Pine
Set of 11 Shaker Style Bent Wood Boxes by James Lynch, 2001
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Set of eleven stacking handmade Shaker boxes signed James Lynch for the Dahl Company out of Portland, Maine circa 2001. These were purchased new in 2001 and were never taken out of t...
Wood
Shaker Small Covered Oval Box, circa 1890
By Shakers
Located in New York, NY
A single lap-jointed bent-wood Shaker oval pantry box with fine old patina. The laps are secured with iron tacks, while the top and bottom boards are wooden pegged. The wood is richl...
Wood
Shaker Four Fingered Mt. Lebanon Oval Pantry Box, Late 19th Century
By Mt. Lebanon Shaker Community
Located in New York, NY
This elegantly proportioned covered oval Shaker storage or pantry box has a wonderful dry patina that has taken 150 years to achieve. Found on a pantry shelf...
Wood
Early 20th Century Shaker Sewing Basket
By Shakers
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 20th Century Shaker Sewing Basket from the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, Maine. An early oval band box made from split poplar w...
Silk, Poplar
19th Century Shaker Style Container with Lid
By Shaker Style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century Shaker style original red painted container with the original hand carved lid is in fine condition.
Wood
Sold
H 11.25 in W 21 in D 3.5 in
Monumental Lesher School Bird's-Eye Maple 6-Finger Shaker Box, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Lesher School shaker box offers bentwood bird's-eye maple pegged construction in oval form with six Gothic-shaped finger joints (swallowtails) finished in...
Copper
Pennsylvania Dutch Shaker Four-Finger Lidded Box, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Pennsylvania Dutch James Lesher School shaker box by offers bentwood maple and birch pegged construction in oval form with four Gothic-shaped finger joints (swallowtails) finished ...
Maple, Birch
Set of Six Graduated Oval Lesher School Shaker Boxes, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Six Lesher school shaker boxes offer bentwood maple and birch pegged construction in oval form with Gothic-shaped finger joints (swallowtails) finished in c...
Copper
Sold
H 3.5 in W 11.5 in D 16 in
Pennsylvania Dutch Shaker Four-Finger Lidded Box by James Lesher, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Pennsylvania Dutch shaker box by renown Pennsylvania craftsman James Lesher offers bentwood maple and birch pegged construction in oval form with four Gothic-shaped finger joints (...
Copper
19th Century Primitive Shaker Pantry or Cheese Box, circa 1800s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Lovely handmade large wood primitive Shaker pantry box with two overlapping panels and fitted lid. Shakers: The United Society of Believers in Chr...
Wood