Shaker Furniture (1790-1900)

Shaker furniture became a worldwide icon of furniture design when it was featured at Expo 67, the 1967 world’s fair in Montreal, Canada. The very modern look of the designs that originated with the Shakers, a religious sect that arrived in America from England in 1774, was a surprise to many. The Shaker religion preached the importance of honesty, integrity, goodness, trust, hard work, equality, and celibacy. The self-contained sect made its own nails; wove strips of fabric for chair seats; invented the flat broom, circular saw, and clothespin; and even helped Mr. Borden create evaporated milk.