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.
$1,600 / item
Santa Rosa Bench in Walnut
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 ...
Maple, Walnut
$1,100 / item
Beachcomber Counter Stool in Walnut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light and strong, the Beachcomber Counter Stool evokes the sight of an old wooden single hull; it's lean, sturdy mast together with the rigging worthy of the high seas. Constructed of hand shaped legs and stretchers, each piece is carefully fit and pinned with hardwood pegs and wedges to last for generations, much like the sea craft that inspire them. For every bar stool, we start with scrupulously chosen lumber; each board must consist of straight grain and have absolutely no defects. This is not just for aesthetics, the clear grain gives the stool its strength. The boards are then milled to dimension and shaped by hand using a combination of machines and time honored hand tools. They are then given a polish by taking thin shavings with well sharpened planes and spokeshaves; rarely is sandpaper used in our shop. Once assembled, the Beachcomber bar stool...
Maple, Walnut
$1,100 / item
Beachcomber Counter Stool in White Oak
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light and strong, the beachcomber bar stool evokes the sight of an old wooden monohull, it's lean, sturdy mast together with the rigging worthy o...
Oak
$1,400 / item
Post Hana Dining Chair with Spindle Back in Walnut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by the simple elegance of Shaker design, the Post Hana Dining Chair distills the features of spindle back seating into its most elemental form. A hand shaped walnut seat acts as the anchor for every other member of the piece. The hand turned spindles and legs are 'staked' into the seat using wedged mortise and tenon joinery; ancient chair...
Walnut
$525Sale Price|30% Off
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
$1,200 / item
Beachcomber Bar Stool in Walnut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light and strong, the Beachcomber bar stool evokes the sight of an old wooden monohull; it's lean, sturdy mast together with the rigging worthy o...
Oak, Walnut
$1,400 / item
Sommar Dining Chair in White Oak with Spindle Back
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by the casual elegance of Scandinavian cafes with their clean, minimal aesthetic and just enough whimsy to keep the vibe fun, the Sommar Dining Chair was designed to fill a ...
Oak, Walnut
Shaker Solid Cherry Wood Dining Chairs, Set of Six
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of six Shaker, Early American, or French Country style solid cherry wood dining chairs By Tom Seely Furniture USA, Circa Late 20th...
Cherry
Six Shaker Style Ebonized Slat Back Dining Chairs with Shawl Rail & Woven Seats
Located in Milford, NH
A fine set of six Shaker style ebonized slat back maple dining chairs with shawl rails, two armchairs and four side chairs, with black and white woven raffia Shaker tape seats. The s...
Raffia, Maple
$7,800 / item
Tranquilo Loveseat in White Oak with Spindle Back
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...
Linen, Oak, Walnut
$750 / item
Beachcomber Milking Stool in Oiled Walnut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The beachcomber milking stool is our take on a Classic, simple form. The hand shaped seat is sculpted for comfort, and the legs are shaved wi...
Oak, Walnut
Sommar Dining Chair in White Oak with Spindle Back in Stock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by the casual elegance of Scandinavian cafes with their clean, minimal aesthetic and just enough whimsy to keep the vibe fun, the Sommar Dining Chair was designed to fill a ...
Oak, Walnut
$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
W.F. Whitney design Ladder Back Shaker Farm House Chairs with Rush Seating 4
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A set of 4 (1 captain and 3 sides) rush seated ladder back chairs from W F Whitney. circa 1920's. These chairs have a unique soulfulness to them from years of use but not abuse. Wond...
Rush, Wood
$910Sale Price|30% Off
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
$1,200 / item
Beachcomber Bar Stool in White Oak
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light and strong, the beachcomber bar stool evokes the sight of an old wooden monohull, it's lean, sturdy mast together with the rigging worthy o...
Oak
Handmade Birch Rocker with Woven Rush Seat
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
USA, 1940s Handmade Birch Rocker with Woven Rush Seat. The details on this piece are subtle but beautiful. The curving back varies from ladder to ladder, the upright arm supports hav...
Rush, Birch
$1,295Sale Price|30% Off
6 Antique Country Farmhouse Maple Ladderback Woven Rattan Dining Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
Set of 6 antique Shaker style country farmhouse dining chairs. Made of Maple featuring a woven rattan seat and ladder back design. Dimensions: 17.5" x 17" x 34.5" h, seat 17"
Rush, Maple
$409Sale Price / set|30% Off
2 Primitive Antique Shaker Style Maple Ladderback Dining Side Chairs Rush Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
A Qauint pair of Shaker ladderback chairs from the first half of the 20th century. Made from maple with a rush seat. Dimensions: 17.5" x 18...
Rush, Birdseye Maple
Four Splendid Early 20th Century Hand Carved High Back Bench in Wood
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid early 20th century hand-carved high back bench in wood. Four Benches are available
Wood
$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
$1,480Sale Price / set|20% Off
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
Historic Set of 6 Shaker Dining Chairs, Mount Lebanon c 1935
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Historic set of six Shaker dining chairs made by Lillian Barlow, Mount Lebanon, c. 1935. Believed to be the last shaker chairs made (see image of letter from Lillian Barlow to Flore...
Wood
Antique American Rustic Shaker Ebonized Wood Rush Seat Rocker Rocking Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Rustic Shaker Ebonized Wood Rush Seat Handmade Rocker Rocking Chair. Circa Early 19th Century. Measurements: 43" H x 25.5" W x 30" D x 17 Seat Height x 27" Arm Height.
Wood
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
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...
Steel
Antique Shaker #7 Shawl Back Rocker Attr. Mount Lebanon Shakers c. Early 20th Ce
By Mt. Lebanon Shaker Community
Located in Westfield, MA
This remarkable Shaker #7 Shawl Back Rocker, attributed to the Mount Lebanon Shakers, offers a timeless example of minimalist design combined with exceptional craftsmanship. Likely c...
Ash, Pine
Gordon Russell Hand Built Ladder Back Oak & Woven Leather Lounge Chairs, 1904
Located in Coronado, CA
A true pair of artifacts! This pair of large Shaker style, loungey, arm chairs was designed and built by Gordon Russell around 1904 in Broadway, England. The chairs feature incredibl...
Leather, Oak
$455Sale Price|30% Off
2 Antique Shaker Style Maple Woven Rush Country Farmhouse Dining Side Chairs
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Shaker style his and hers side dining chairs featuring maple frames with ladderback design and woven rush seats. Dimensions: 18.5" x 19" x 33"h, seat 17"; 15" x 17.5" x 32"h...
Maple, Rush
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...
Pine
Santa Rosa Bench in White Oak
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 ...
Oak, Walnut
$1,100 / item
Beachcomber Counter Stool in Walnut in Stock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light and strong, the Beachcomber Counter Stool evokes the sight of an old wooden single hull; its lean, sturdy mast together with the riggi...
Maple, Walnut
Set of Four Velvet Chairs by Willy Rizzo, Chrome Frame, Circa 1970
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A sublime set of four chairs with a refined design typical of the 1970s, attributed to Willy Rizzo, renowned for his style blending modernism, luxury, and clean lines. Each chair fea...
Chrome
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...
Wood, Hardwood, Ash
$5,000 / set
Jeffrey Greene Designed Rush Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six Shaker style dining chairs with rush seating and tall ladder backs. Designed by Jeffrey Greene with exposed nail trim going up the back. Side chairs: 43"h, 20"w, 22"d Armc...
Rush, Wood
$2,038 / set
Set of 6 oak Folk Art Brutalist dining chairs.
Located in CASTENRAY, NL
A set of 6 surprising dining chairs, Modernist, Brutalist, Folk Art, Tribal Art, sculpted in massive oakwood, with beautiful floral organic motifs, to be attributed, France 1950. Th...
Oak