Shaker (1820 to 1860)
The Shaker period was named after a religious movement and the furniture created by these world renowned craftsman was simple and utilitarian. The appearance was primarily straight lines, woven or cane seat material, basic turned wooden knobs, and visible locking joinery.
Furniture was made thoughtfully, with functional form and proportion. Rather than using ornamentation—such as inlays and carvings metal pulls, or veneers—which was seen as prideful or deceitful, they developed "creative solutions such as asymmetrical drawer arrangements and multipurpose forms to add visual interest." Furniture was made of cherry, maple or pine lumber, which was generally stained or painted with one of the colors which were dictated by the sect, typically blue, red, yellow or green. Drawer pulls for dressers or other furniture were made of wood
The underlying principles of Shaker design have given inspiration to some of the finest designers of modern furniture. Shaker ladder back chairs for instance, deeply influenced the work of an entire generation of postwar Danish designers. Also many ideals of furniture formed around the common Shaker furniture construction.
As they began making furniture (first for their use, and later for sale), Shaker craftsmen principally followed contemporary Federalist styles, like those of Hepplewhite and Sheraton, with their ideals of symmetry, proportion, and balance. But they soon simplified these neoclassical lines even further, to an almost ascetic degree. Mother Ann Lee, the movement's founder, advocated that a piece be made "plain and simple ... unembellished by any superfluities which add nothing to its goodness or durability."
The three P's characterizing the Shaker values—plainness, practicality, and pride—are reflected in their furniture