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.
$2,795 / set
Nichols & Stone Shaker Armchairs Pair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Wood
Antique Shaker Style Maple Ladderback Elder's High Back Arm Chair Woven Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
This exceptional Shaker Elder’s high-back ladder-back armchair beautifully captures the timeless minimalist aesthetic and exceptional utilitarian design of historic American craftsma...
Maple
$1,480Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 46 in W 17.5 in D 18.75 in
Antique Pennsylvania Shaker Style Tall Ladderback & Rush Dining Chair Set
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Set of 4 solid Oak ladderback Shaker era style chairs. We believe these to be early 1900s version. Woven rush seating have nice warm aged patina but no signs of use. These are al...
Oak, Rush
$2,195
H 37 in W 51 in D 19.75 in
Vintage American Birdcage Windsor Bench, 1990's after Nichols & Stone
Located in Southampton, NJ
1990's American Folk style Windsor bench or settee with mortis & tenon joinery in the Birdcage style. Faux bamboo turnings combine traditional Windsor construction with Asian des...
Wood
Louis XVI style antique arm chair
Located in Houston, TX
This is a single 19 th c arm chair. Oval carved back New upholstery
Oak
Early 20th Century Nichols and Stone Barely Back Windsor Armchair
Located in Germantown, MD
An early 20th century Nichols And Stone Barely Back Windsor stained ArmChair. Very sturdy. Good vintage condition. Measures 25" in width, 23" in depth and 35.5" tall. Arm height is 2...
Hardwood
Nichols & Stone Birdcage Windsor Dining Chairs, Faux Bamboo
Located in Southampton, NJ
A pair of Nichols & Stone Birdcage Windsor dining chairs featuring split wedge mortise and tenon joinery with faux bamboo turned spindles, legs & H stretchers. No longer in p...
Maple
$2,895 / set
H 36.75 in W 22.5 in D 24 in
Pair of Neoclassical Style Caned Seat and Back Patinated Walnut Arm Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Neoclassical Style Caned Seat and Back Patinated Solid Walnut Arm Chairs Its dimensions are approximately 22.5 inches wide x 24 inches in depth and 36.75" in height. Seat he...
Cane, Walnut
High Style French Deco Sculpted Arm Occasional Chair
By Jean Prouvé
Located in St. Louis, MO
French deco, French Moderne or midcentury single armchair, circa 1940s with sculptural scroll arm and dramatic triangle form legs. Older upholstery should be updated, would look grea...
Upholstery, Oak
Pair of Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and comfortable set of Guglielmo armchairs! Truly for the collector who enjoys these rare finds in furniture. They are being sold as a pair but one had the rush re-done ...
Cord, Seagrass, Rush, Walnut
A High Back Arm Chair, Upholstered in Pure Alpaca Wool
By Mogens Lassen, Viggo Boesen, Fritz Hansen, Flemming Lassen
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A modern 1940s style high backed armchair. Handcrafted beech frame, sprung seat and solid oak feet. Newly upholstered in a luxurious, soft, pure alpaca wool fabric. Handmade in E...
Alpaca, Beech, Oak
$1,195 / set
H 45.5 in W 20 in D 19 in
Set of 4 Shaker Cherry Ladder Back Dining Chairs in the Style of Nichols & Stone
Located in Chino Hills, CA
**Set of 4 Shaker Style Cherry Ladder Back Dining Chairs – Nichols & Stone** Classic American-made **Nichols & Stone** ladder back dining chairs crafted in solid cherry, emb...
Cherry
Pair of Baker High Back Arm Chairs
Located in Pasadena, TX
A pair of highback armchairs made by Baker. Walnut frames with brown herringbone upholstery.
Fabric, Walnut
Dramatic High-Back Barrel Accent Chair with Maple Gloss Base
By Jhon Ortiz, The Tailored Home
Located in Greenwich, CT
Pricing reflects COM (Customer's Own Material); fabric shown for inspiration only. A dramatically tall back rises above a compact barrel seat on this made-to-order accent chair — a s...
Linen
Nichols and Stone 20th Century Ebonized Maple Windsor Armchair
Located in Germantown, MD
High Quality Vintage Ebonized Maple Wood Windsor ArmChair by Nichols and Stone. Measures 23" in width, 23" in depth, 33" in height. Seat height is 16.5" and arm height is 27.5". Seat...
Maple, Paint
Double Amethyst Armchair with 2 Amethyst Stone
Located in Paris, FR
Armchair double amethyst with structure in solid mahogany from Borneo, with solid lianes. With 2 big amethyst stones from Brazil. Seat in natural hemp. Nails, details and finishe...
Amethyst, Bronze
Maxwell Royal American High Back Arm Lounge Chair c 1950's
By Maxwell Royal Chair Company
Located in New York, NY
Voguish, chic and stylish high back arm, lounge chair by The Maxwell Royal Chair Company. The chair features a sculptural exposed wood frame with upholstered back rest and seat cushi...
Upholstery, Wood
Rare Set of Shaker Styled Wingback Chairs
By De Puydt
Located in Beerse, VAN
Very rare set of shaker styled wingback chairs. Their robust and simple architecture gives these chairs a brutalist or Japandi look. I’ve never seen a se...
Beech
Early Xxth Century Beech and Cord Armchair, U.S.a
Located in Brussels, BE
Very nice early XXth century elegant armchair. Possibly designed by Ernest Gimson. Patinated beech and original woven cord seat. Dimensions: 106 cm H, 62 cm W, 52 cm D, seat heigh...
Cord, Beech
Sold
H 42 in W 23 in D 28 in
Three American Maple Shaker Ladder Back Rocking Chairs from Mt Lebanon New York.
By Mt. Lebanon Shaker Community
Located in London, GB
A rare set of three American Shaker, ladder back rocking chairs. All three came together and are made from Maple. The tall ladder back armc...
Maple
Sold
H 41.5 in W 23 in D 16.75 in
Vintage Signed Cherrywood Dining Set by Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers, 1985-1986
By Thomas Moser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous dining set comprised of one table with additional leaf and four armchairs; handmade by Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers 1985-86. Purchased directly from the estate of the original owner, this set has been lovingly conditioned and refinished. The tone of the cherry, which tends to grower darker and richer with age, is a wonderful honey-like, warm amber color; combined here with a penetrating, aqueous hand-rubbed finish--the result is visually stunning, enriching finish which will preserve and protect the set for many years to come. Solid cherry boards comprise the table's top, bent laminated figured strips for the apron; square-tapered legs held firm with four round pegs--in the traditional American Shaker style...
Ash, Cherry
#1 Shaker Childs Arm Chair
By Shaker Style
Located in Chicago, IL
An absolutely charming small child's armchair. These little chairs 'manufactured' by the Shakers are extremely rare. This one is in original condition with a very warm patina.
American 19th Century Child's Rocking Chair
Located in San Francisco, CA
An American hardwood Shaker style child's, the simple spindle back above a perforated solid seat with straight legs ending in rockers.