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Shaker Benches

Shaker Style

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.

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Style: Shaker
Santa Rosa Bench in Walnut
Santa Rosa Bench in Walnut

Santa Rosa Bench in Walnut

By Greg Mitchell

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The Santa Rosa bench is a simple piece of seating for the well appointed interior. Its clean lines, hand turned base, and wedged through tenons amount to a design that is at home in ...

Category

2010s American Shaker Benches

Materials

Maple, Walnut

Tranquilo Loveseat in White Oak with Spindle Back
Tranquilo Loveseat in White Oak with Spindle Back

Tranquilo Loveseat in White Oak with Spindle Back

By Greg Mitchell

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Everyone knows the love seat is nothing more than a glorified bench, or a miniature couch, but the fact is it's often a necessary item for city dwellers who lack the room for a secti...

Category

2010s American Shaker Benches

Materials

Linen, Oak, Walnut

Santa Rosa Bench in White Oak
Santa Rosa Bench in White Oak

Santa Rosa Bench in White Oak

By Greg Mitchell

Located in Los Angeles, CA

The Santa Rosa bench is a simple piece of seating for the well appointed interior. Its clean lines, hand turned base, and wedged through tenons amount to a design that is at home in ...

Category

2010s American Shaker Benches

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Pair of American Modernist Shaker-Inspired Benches
Pair of American Modernist Shaker-Inspired Benches

Pair of American Modernist Shaker-Inspired Benches

Located in Chicago, IL

A chic pair of mid-20th century American modernist Shaker-inspired pine benches with striking silhouette that bend seamlessly into any style interior. Painted black with signs of wea...

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Mid-20th Century American Shaker Benches

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Pine

Shaker Inspired Settee, Shaker Style in Painted Repurposed Steel by Jim Rose
Shaker Inspired Settee, Shaker Style in Painted Repurposed Steel by Jim Rose

Shaker Inspired Settee, Shaker Style in Painted Repurposed Steel by Jim Rose

By Jim Rose

Located in Chicago, IL

This Settee offers a revealing counterpoint within Jim Rose’s legacy, demonstrating his ability to work fluently within historical forms while subtly expanding his material and visua...

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1990s American Shaker Benches

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Steel

Bench in Solid English Ash and London Plane, Two Seater, Made by Loose Fit, UK
Bench in Solid English Ash and London Plane, Two Seater, Made by Loose Fit, UK

Bench in Solid English Ash and London Plane, Two Seater, Made by Loose Fit, UK

By Loose Fit

Located in Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex, GB

Bench in Solid English Ash and London Plane, designed and handmade by Loose Fit. Both versatile and functional, this wooden bench is made from a light coloured English Ash that cont...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Shaker Benches

Materials

Wood, Hardwood, Ash

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This bench is composed of a Corian top floating on an elegantly detailed walnut frame. It is large enough for one's imagination or a group conversation. Spanning 7' long, it commands environments while subtly disappearing like its double miter joints that waterfall into the walnut grain. The bench is sawn from long hand-selected boards, carefully milled with a miter joint detail that cascades or 'waterfalls' a continuous grain from the seat down through the legs. To further accentuate the bench's slender span, we chose a double miter cut on the edge profile that almost makes the Bench's thickness at first glance disappear. The white-to-walnut bench refines the moment of repose. Its minimalism is as seductive as its touch to the senses. This bench is versatile and can just as easily define a vestibule or gallery window as it will sit aside a matching dining table. Finished in Tung oil it maintains a natural look and feel for the locally sourced black walnut. This item is available in custom sizes or finishes upon request. Due to natural materials used, the object received will be unique in material figuring and coloration. No item assembly or installation is necessary. Care for the object is minimal and can be conditioned every 2 years to maintain the original finish. All of our pieces are originally designed and handmade in the Brooklyn, NY based Figure+Ground studio; we don't believe in the separation of design and fabrication. Each item is handcrafted, serialized, and shipped with a “Certificate of Authenticity”, documenting its place in history. Own an original Figure+Ground Piece...

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Spanish Renaissance Revival Carved Wooden Bench, Early 20th Century
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Old Hickory Barrel-Back Settee
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Old Hickory Barrel-Back Settee

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Santa Rosa Bench in White Oak
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Santa Rosa Bench in Oiled Walnut in Stock
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Shaker benches for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Shaker benches for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage benches created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, oak and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Shaker benches made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original benches, popular names associated with this style include and Jim Rose. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for benches differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,600 and tops out at $8,500 while the average work can sell for $5,548.