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.
1890s Gray Checkerboard American Shaker Rag Rug 3'x12'6" Flatweave Wool Carpet
Located in New York, NY
19th Century American Shaker Rag Rug ( 3' x 12'6" - 90 x 380 ) Antique American Rag Rug America Flat Weave, Circa Date: 1890s. This exceptional piece of Americana represents the uti...
Wool
Lovely Multi Blue Color Contemporary Handwoven American Shaker Style Flat Weave
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave ( 9'1" x 12'2" -277 x 371 ) Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitche...
Wool
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
Extraordinary MultiBlue Contemporary Handwoven Shaker Style FlatWeave Rug 9 x 11
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet 9'2" X 11'9" Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched toge...
Wool
Charming Earth Tones with Allover Design Modern Shaker Flat Weave Rug 10 x 14
Located in New York, NY
Shaker 10'0" x 14'0". Handwoven. American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched together in a gradient of hues which express a casua...
Wool
Special Multicolor Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet9'2" x 12'4"
Wool
1930s American Shaker Rag Rug ( 3'6" x 14'4" - 107 x 437 )
Located in New York, NY
1930s American Shaker Rag Rug ( 3'6" x 14'4" - 107 x 437 )
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century American Shaker Pile Carpet ( 8'6" x 9'2" - 260 x 280 )
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th Century American Shaker Pile Carpet ( 8'6" x 9'2" - 260 x 280 )
Wool
1970s Handcrafted Resin Table Lamps by Aro Leuchten, Germany
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of handcrafted resin lamps produced in the 1970s by Aro Leuchten. Sculptural design, typical of 1970s European lighting. The resin softly diffuses light, creating a warm atmosph...
Resin
Early 20th Century American Shaker Pile Carpet ( 3' x 23'3" - 92 x 708 )
Located in New York, NY
Rare Early 20th Century American Shaker Pile Carpet ( 3' x 23'3" - 92 x 708 )
Wool
Vintage Indian Rug with Modern Shaker Style and Islamic Tile Design
Located in Dallas, TX
77573, vintage Indian rug with Modern Shaker style and Islamic Tile Design. With luminous brown hues and ornate details, this hand knotted wool vintage In...
Wool
$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
$2,396Sale Price|20% Off
New Contemporary Moroccan Runner with Minimalist Shaker Style
Located in Dallas, TX
80504 New Contemporary Moroccan Runner with Minimalist Shaker Style. This hand knotted wool contemporary Moroccan runner features a solid abrashed brown field finished with a wide ec...
Wool
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
$4,720Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Rabat Moroccan Medallion Rug with Transylvanian Anatolian Style
By Rabat Village Women, Berber Tribes of Morocco
Located in Dallas, TX
73993, vintage Berber Rabat Moroccan Medallion rug with Transylvanian Anatolian style. This hand knotted wool vintage Rabat Moroccan rug beautifully highlights Anatolian and Transylv...
Wool
The Golden Nomad: A Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug of Refined Simplicity
Located in Dallas, TX
53244 Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 03'04 x 04'10. Exuding the quiet confidence of timeless craftsmanship, this hand-knotted wool vintage Turkish Sivas rug is a study in understated lux...
Wool
American Mission Bronze Spider Web Box
Located in Queens, NY
American Mission Tiffany rectangular bronze spider web filigree box with glass panel interior
Bronze
$2,799Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Turkish Rug with Persian Malayer Design and Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
52563 Antique Turkish Malayer Rug Runner, 04'02 x 12'02. In the rarefied world of collectible textiles, this hand knotted wool vintage Turkish rug woven in the distinguished Malayer ...
Wool
Mid 20th Century American Rag Rug Runner ( 3' x 33' - 92 x 1006 )
Located in New York, NY
Mid 20th Century American Rag Rug Runner ( 3' x 33' - 92 x 1006 )
Wool
$3,120Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug with Shaker Style and Neutral Colors
Located in Dallas, TX
52459, vintage Turkish Oushak rug with Shaker style and neutral colors. This hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak rug features a subtle all-over lattice pattern spread across a w...
Wool
19th Century American Shaker Carpet ( 3' x 4'9" - 92 x 145 )
Located in New York, NY
19th Century American Shaker Carpet with multi color background. ( 3' x 4'9" - 92 x 145 )
Wool
1910 Neutral & Colorful Stripe Antique American Shaker Rag Rug 8' x 11' Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th Century American Shaker Rag Rug ( 8' x 11' - 245 x 335 cm ) Antique American Rag Rug Room Size Cotton Multicolor, Circa Date: 1890s. This exc...
Fabric, Wool
1900s Multi Stripe Antique American Shaker Rag Rug 2' x 3' Woven Wool Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th Century American Shaker Rag Rug ( 2' x 3' - 60 x 90 cm ) Antique American Rag Rug Small Scatter Size Wool Multicolor, Circa Date: 1900s. This...
Wool
Set of 6 Oak Dining Chairs, Folk Art Brutalist Style, France 1950s
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
$3,600Sale Price|25% Off
Francoise See Large Brushed Steel Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
rare brushed steel lamp designed by Francoise See in the 1970's located in NY
Steel
Great Multi Blue-Gray Color Contemporary Handwoven Shaker Style Flat Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet 9'0" X 11'9" Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched toget...
Wool
Energetic Multi Rose Color Contemporary Handwoven Shaker Style Flat Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet ( 10'6" x 14'10" - 320 x 450 cm) Shaker rug handwoven from wool foundation. This rug is made of four flat woven panels wh...
Wool
Modern Beige and Brown Color with Shaker Style Flat Weave Contemporary Rug
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet 9'1" x 12'6". Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched tog...
Wool
Fantabulous Faded Blue Color Contemporary Handwoven Shaker Style Flat-Weave Rug
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet 9'9" x 12'0" Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched toge...
Wool
Attractive Earth Tones Contemporary Handwoven Shaker Style Flat Weave Rug 8 x 10
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet 8'4" x 10'6". Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched tog...
Wool
Attractive Earth Tones Contemporary Handwoven Shaker Style Flat Weave Rug 8 x 10
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary Handwoven Wool Shaker Style Flat Weave Carpet 8'3" x 10'2". Shaker American Shaker carpets have that textural rag rug vibe. Woven in strips that are then stitched to...
Wool
$5,520Sale Price|20% Off
Distressed Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug with Rustic William and Mary Style
Located in Dallas, TX
52652 Distressed Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug with Rustic William and Mary Style 09'00 x 12'04. With its neutral color palette, straight and curved lines, this hand knotted wool distres...
Wool
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
Graphic Hand Woven Shaker Textile
By Shakers
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Late 19th or early 20th century Shaker textile with colorful and graphic horizontal bands and scalloped border. Ohio/Pennsylvania origin. Professio...
Wool
19th Century American Shaker Jute Rag Rug ( 2'10" x 29'4" - 86 x 894 )
Located in New York, NY
19th Century American Shaker Jute Rag Rug ( 2'10" x 29'4" - 86 x 894 )
Jute
$1,500Sale Price|40% Off
Adjustable Table Lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Adjustable table lamp. Located in NY.
Chrome, Metal
Vintage Solid Teak Ladder-Back Dining Chairs with Custom Cushions
By Pierre Chapo
Located in New York City, NY
This set of six dining chairs is crafted from solid teak and designed with a classic ladder-back frame. The backrests are slightly curved for comfort, while the straight, square legs...
Teak