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 Antique L. Hitchcock Black Gold Stenciled Farmhouse Harvest Rush Seat Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
Two antique early 20th Century original L. Hitchcock Harvest Windsor dining chairs. Made with an ebonized finish, gold stenciled accents, and woven rush seat. Dimensions: 17.5"w x 1...
Lacquer, Rush
Antique 19th Century Childs Shaker Maple Rush Ladder Back Small Side Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th Century Childs Shaker Maple Rush Ladder Back Small Side Chair. Circa Mid 19th Century. Measurements: 28" H x 16" W x 15" D x 12.5" Seat h...
Maple
Late 18th Century Pair of New England Shaker Ladder Back Chairs with Rush Seats
Located in Elkhart, IN
An exceptional pair of late 18th century American ladder back chairs, crafted in maple with their original black painted finish and handwoven rush seats. Their tall, sculptural silho...
Rush, Maple, Paint
$1,250 / set
Pair of Shaker Style Ladderback Chairs
By Shaker Style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th c. early New England Shaker style Ladderback Chairs.
Pine
$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
$3,800 / set
H 34.25 in W 21.25 in D 16 in
Four Hitchcock Chairs with Woven Rush Seats and Hand Painted Detailing
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Four beautifully Hand Crafted designed and built wooden Hitchcock chairs with Hand Painted gold accents. Three without arms and three with arms. The four are in great condition and...
Wood, Paint
Vintage Maple & Rush Harvest Chairs by L. Hitchcock
By Hitchcock, Lambert Hitchcock
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charming pair of vintage harvest chairs produced by the second iteration of the legendary Lambert Hitchcock Chair factory of Riverton, Connecticut dating to the 1940s. A solid maple ...
Papercord, Wood, Hardwood, Maple
Pair of Baker Neoclassical Style Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
A Classic and handsome pair of baker neoclassical style occasional chairs newly upholstered in a creamy white ecru velvet with black grosgrain detai...
Giltwood, Wood
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 16.5 in D 14.5 in
Early New England Decorated Childs Chair with Original Rush Seat
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This finely painted and decorated child's chair from New England has wonderful original gilding and fine stenciled splash. The rush seat is original to the chair. There is wear to be...
Pine
Late 18th Century Shield Back Hall Chair
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Fine George III mahogany hall chair, the shield back bear painted heraldic crests commemorating the union of the original owners: one half lions rampant and...
Mahogany
$971Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 40 in W 18 in D 17 in
Mid-Century Ladder Back Maple and Rush Seats Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A pair of Mid-Century Ladder Back Maple and Rush Seats Side Chairs Measures 18" width, 40" in height, 17" in depth. Seat height 18"
Rush, Maple
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.25 in W 16.75 in D 14.25 in
Pair of 19th Century Maple Side Chairs with Rush Seats
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 19th century maple side chairs with rush seats. Seats with remnants of paint. Frames tightened. Chairs touched up & polished.
Rush, Maple
Pair of Regency Style Carved Lion Head Chairs
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of English Regency or French Empire style chairs. Nice floral carvings in the wood with distinctive lion head arms. Good vintage condition with some blemishes on the wood fra...
Mahogany
$750
H 39 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
2 Antique Shaker Style Mahogany Ladder Back Dining Side Chairs Rush Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
2 antique Shaker style side chairs. Mismatched set with different ladder back styles. Made from mahogany with rush seat over ring turned legs. Dimensions: 19.5" x 19.5" x 39"h, se...
Rattan, Mahogany
$2,528 / set
H 33.08 in W 16.93 in D 16.15 in
Pair English 19th Century Faux Bamboo And Rush Side Chairs C.1815
Located in London, GB
Pair Of English 19th Century Faux Bamboo And Rush Side Chairs C.1815 A pair of English Regency side chairs in solid wood with original rush seats. Slender turned legs, shaped stretc...
Faux Bamboo, Rush
Fantastic Pair of Venetian Grotto Style Side Chairs
Located in East Hampton, NY
Unique pair of Venetian style grotto chairs with seahorse carved back and scallop seats in a silvered wood.... the legs are carved in the shape of shells.
Wood
Pair of Oak Side Chairs with Rush Seats, Europe 1960s
Located in Utrecht, NL
This mid-century side chair pair was born from a desire to create a design that was comfortable, organic and cosy in its simplicity. The design incorporates subtle, yet stunning deco...
Rush, Wood
$1,356Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 41 in W 21.5 in D 19 in
Ladder Back Dining Chairs Harvest Stenciled Rush Seat by L Hitchcock
By Hitchcock
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 ...
Rush, Wood
$1,508Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.86 in W 17.72 in D 19.3 in
Antique American Maple Gilt & Ebonised Frame & Rush Seat Chair
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Lambert Hitchcock Maple Gilt & Ebonised Frame With Rush Seat Chair Provenance purchased from a Country Estate in Wiltshire, UK. Lambert Hitchcock (May 28, 1795, Cheshire, Conn...
Maple
Antique Ladder Back Side Chair, The Netherlands
Located in Beerse, VAN
Antique ladder back chair from the Netherlands. The chair still has its original patina from natural wear, with a paint that is a dark, almost black color. At the same time, the ori...
Wicker, Wood
Antique Shaker Ladder Back Side Chair
Located in Denver, CO
Shaker Ladder back chair, 19th/20th Century. This side chair features a splint seat and old paint. Dimensions 44" H x 19"W x 14"D Seat hei...
Wood, Paint
Set of 3 Mid 19C Shaker Pioneer Ladderback Chairs
By Shaker Style
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING 3 GLORIOUS pieces of AMERICAN WESTERN HISTORY ! This is a Set of 3 Mid 19C Shaker Pioneer Ladderback Chairs from circa 1840-60. The set of 3 ladderback side chairs are not identical or matching. This is not unusual, as each were fully hand-crafted and each one is unique. The 3 chairs have been together since being made and were kept in the same family collection for generations. The chairs on the extreme left and right in the main photo are matching with a circular decoration on the tallest ladderback. They both appear to be made of pitch pine. The chair in the center appears to be made of elm. In ORIGINAL CONDITION …. untouched …. natural wear and tear and in good condition considering their age, woods, construction and historical use. These would have belonged to an early settler in the drive Westward across the US Continent by way of Wagon Train to settle new lands. They were very functional pieces of furniture. Diminutive in size but not to be confused with children’s furniture. There were made to (1) easily fit in a Wagon whilst travelling West (2) could then be used as functional piece of furniture around the homestead, once settled and (3) people were much smaller in the mid-19th Century. They were probably made in or around the Ohio Valley Area by the ‘Shakers’ who were renowned for making these types of pieces. Provenance: Part of a Dallas Private Collection . Dimensions: The matching pair (left & right) are each 36 in Tall...
Elm, Pine
Vintage Shaker Arts & Crafts Oak Ladderback Side Accent Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century arts & crafts side chair. Made from oak with a serpentine ladder back. Features ripped stiles, spire finials and a slatted seat. Legs are turned with ribbed stretchers.
Oak
Sold
H 44.5 in W 19 in D 20 in
Antique Early 20th Century Shaker Oak Ladderback Side Accent Chair Rush Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
A lovely early 20th century shaker side chair. Made from oak with a serpentine ladder back. Features ripped stiles, spire finials and a rush seat. ...
Rush, Oak
Sold
H 45 in W 23.25 in D 19.25 in
Vintage Early American Style Oak Rustic Ladderback Rush Seat Shaker Arm Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Early American style shaker ladderback chair. Made from oak with black painted finish, naturally distressed allowing the oak to show th...
Rush, Oak, Paint
Sold
H 34 in W 17 in D 14 in
Early 19th Century Antique American Shaker Ladderback Dining Chairs, Set of 4
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introduce the charm of classic American craftsmanship to your dining room with our set of four antique early American Shaker ladderback chairs...
Wood
Sold
H 36.5 in W 13 in D 19 in
1757 Antique 18th Century Primitive Folk Art Ladderback Rush Shaker Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique mid-18th century Shaker chair featuring painted accents with ladderback and rush seat. Circa 1757, American.
Rush, Hardwood, Paint
Sold
H 38 in W 18.5 in D 18 in
6 Antique Shaker Walnut Ladder Back Rush Dining Side Chairs Country Farmhouse
Located in Dayton, OH
Six antique Shaker farmhouse side dining chairs. Made of walnut featuring tall ladderback form with teardrop shaped finials, round turned supports and woven rush seat.
Rush, Walnut
19th Century Mt. Lebanon Shaker Ladder Back and Tilter Side Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This original surface 19th century Mt. Lebanon, New York Shaker ladder back chair retains the original stained finish. The back lower legs ha...
Maple