t was 1774 when Mother Ann Lee came from England to establish an orderly utopia in America based on equality, tolerance, and pacifism. Her idea grew into a scattering of Shaker villages and perhaps 6,000 members by 1850. Purity in living fostered purity in aesthetics. Far ahead of their time, the pioneering artisans designed their shaker furniture according to its use. Form followed function with beautiful results. Our styles are not all reproductions but modern translations of the clean, simple lines they laid down so long ago.

 Though their designs were simple, they were also modern, and the furniture they produced was renowned for its quality. Members of the villages became highly skilled Shaker furniture makers in craft and dexterity, which they utilized to benefit their own families, as well as selling their crafts for profit to the public.

Shaker furniture is highly admired because of its high functionality, unique joinery, simplicity and quality. It was created to be simplistic to mirror the sparse lifestyle of the community. As the skill of carpentry evolved, so too did the workers’ art: it became more comfortable while still remaining functional and beautiful. Shaker furniture manufacturers were praised as being far ahead of their time, and their work still inspires many artisans today. A great deal of modern Shaker furniture takes its inspiration from Shaker furniture, and there are many designers who specialize in recreating this beautiful style of furniture.