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What Is Shaker Style Furniture

Shaker-style furniture is simple, clean-lined, austere, primarily wooden furniture that was first created in the United States in the 1800s by the religious movement known as the Shakers.

What defines Shaker style?

Shaker style furniture is characterized by clean lines, tapered legs, and minimalist designs. It’s known for being practical and simple down to the very last detail.

What does Shaker mean in furniture?

Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, commonly known as Shakers, a religious sect that had guiding principles of simplicity, utility and honesty. Their beliefs were reflected in the well-made furniture of minimalist designs.

How do I identify my furniture Shaker?

Shaker furniture can be identified by its round wooden knobs, tapered legs and subtle curves. These features give shaker furniture its traditional, gentle look. While maple wood also seemed to be the wood of choice for most shaker pieces, many modern versions include pine, maple, cherry or other American woods.

What is the difference between Shaker and Mission style?

When comparing Shaker and Mission furniture styles, Shaker furniture has a more delicate appearance, with chairs and tables featuring tapered legs. The square legs of Mission-style furniture provide a heavier, more solid look.

Is Shaker furniture out of style?

Thought of by some as the first minimalists, the Shakers have all but died out in the 21st century, but their most enduring legacy might be the timeless, austere furniture that continues to inspire today’s designers and home decorators.

Is Shaker style farmhouse?

A farmhouse kitchen doesn’t actually have to be in a farmhouse, but evoke that simple and inviting feeling of one. White shaker cabinets are ideal for farmhouse kitchens, thanks to their timeless and unpretentious style. Lots of natural light, exposed wood and soft colors round out the look.

What does a shaker style cabinet look like?

In the world of cabinetry, shaker cabinets are units that are simple but aesthetically pleasing. Shaker cabinet doors are cope-and-stick construction and recessed panel doors with simple and clean inside and outside edges. This cabinet style is known for its minimalistic look when placed in a kitchen or bathroom.

Do Shakers make furniture?

Shaker communities were largely self-sufficient: in their attempt to separate themselves from the outside world and to create a heaven-on-earth, members grew their own food, constructed their own buildings, and manufactured their own tools and household furnishings.

Why are Shaker cabinets so popular?

Why Are Shaker Cabinets So Popular? Versatility, timelessness, and that they look good in other areas of the house, not just the kitchen, make Shaker style kitchens appealing. Their minimalist aesthetic makes them fit into almost all contemporary bespoke kitchens. It’s all down to mixing longevity with versatility.

How do I know if my furniture is antique Shaker?

Some Shaker chairs have a low, single-slat wooden back, which can conveniently slide under a table or hang on a wall when they are not in use. Look for antique specialty wooden chairs with rotating seats, tilting legs or rocking legs that can also indicate an authentic Shaker design.

What is the difference between Shaker and craftsman?

Shaker is traditionally made of maple, and generally a maple door is identified as a Shaker style. Craftsman or Mission doors are traditionally of of quartersawn oak. But there are also pine, elm, fir, hickory and painted doors in both Shaker and Craftsman kitchens.

What is the difference between Shaker and Amish?

Mission-style Amish furniture is still fairly simple, but it does look a little more elaborate than Shaker furniture. It is often made of oak or something similar, and it is usually stained very dark. This makes it look heavier and thicker than Shaker-style furniture.

Is Shaker craftsman style?

Shaker and mission style furniture are often associated because both styles have been adopted by traditional furniture craftsmen. The Amish are often cited as the source of both design philosophies, although that’s not true in either case.

Are Quakers and Shakers the same?

The Quakers, or Society of Friends, were founded in England in 1652 by George Fox. This form of worship changed in the 1740s, though it was retained by one group in Manchester, England. The “Shaking Quakers,” or Shakers, split from mainstream Quakerism in 1747 after being heavily influenced by Camisard preaching.

Is Shaker style transitional?

Transitional design is the marriage of traditional and contemporary styles. Furthermore, it borrows warmth from the traditional side and simplicity from contemporary design. Elements of a transitional kitchen includes shaker-style cabinets, natural surfaces, streamlined tile, simple accents, as well as neutral colors.

What are Shaker colors?

Almost all original Shaker furniture, built-ins, household objects and even floors were painted colors with names like chrome yellow, red ochre, yellow ochre, red lead, chrome green, Venetian red and Prussian blue. The goal was a neat appearance and efficient cleaning.

Do Shakers believe in the Bible?

Beliefs and Practices Shakers are Millenialists who follow the teachings of the Bible and of Mother Ann Lee and leaders who came after her. Like several other religious groups in the United States, they live separately from “the world,” yet interact with the general community through commerce.

Where is Shaker furniture made?

Shaker Furniture Our Shaker Collection is inspired by classic Shaker forms. All of our Shaker dining tables, Shakerbeds, Shaker Chests and Dressers, and Shaker occasional tables are American made, most of them hand built in Maine.