Shaker Furniture Value & Price Guide

Shaker furniture is celebrated for its minimalist aesthetic, exceptional craftsmanship, and functional design. Originating from the United Society of Believers, these pieces prioritize utility and simplicity over ornamentation, making them timeless additions to any collection.

Price Range: $300 - $373 based on recent sales

History of Shaker Furniture

The Shaker movement flourished in the United States during the 19th century, establishing self-sufficient communities known for their rigorous work ethic and devotion to perfection. Furniture making was a spiritual act for the Shakers, who believed that creating something well was a form of prayer. This philosophy resulted in the 'Shaker look'—a style defined by clean lines, tapered legs, and the absence of veneers or inlays, which were seen as prideful and deceptive. While initially produced for internal use, the quality of Shaker chairs and boxes eventually led to a thriving commercial industry, particularly from the Mount Lebanon community in New York. As the 20th century progressed, the Shaker population declined, but their design principles profoundly influenced modernism and mid-century furniture design. Today, original Shaker pieces are highly sought after by museums and private collectors for their purity of form and historical significance.

Value Factors for Shaker Furniture

The typical price range for Shaker Furniture is $300 - $373 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Provenance and community attribution, with pieces from early settlements like Watervliet or Hancock commanding higher premiums.
• The presence of original hardware, such as turned wooden knobs and 'mushroom' tilters on chair legs.
• Rarity of the form, where large-scale items like armoires or multi-drawer seed chests are valued much higher than common side chairs.
• Overall condition of the wood, specifically looking for cracks in the delicate bentwood of nesting boxes or wear on the ladder-back slats.

Tips for Buying Shaker Furniture

• Examine the joinery for hand-cut dovetails and mortise-and-tenon joints which indicate authentic 19th-century construction.
• Look for original finishes like red, blue, or yellow milk paint, as stripped or refinished pieces often lose significant market value.
• Identify the community of origin by checking for specific regional characteristics, such as the unique finial shapes used by Mount Lebanon or Canterbury makers.
• Distinguish between 'Shaker-style' revival pieces from the 20th century and original 19th-century artifacts by checking for circular saw marks versus hand-plane marks.

Items in This Collection

• Shaker Footstool
• Shaker Peg Rack with Shelf
• Shaker Ladder-back Chair
• Shaker Armoire
• Shaker Style Armoire
• Shaker Style Ladder Back Chair
• Shaker Peg Shelf
• Shaker Style Rocking Chair
• Shaker Nesting Boxes
• Shaker Ladder-back Rocking Chair