Shaker (1820-1860)

The Shaker style is a simple, utilitarian style characterized by straight tapered legs, woven chair seats, and mushroom-shaped wooden knobs. It was produced by the religious group the United Society of Believers in self-contained communities in the United States.

Simple – Straight lines, simple design, and little ornamentation.(Contemporary style shown)

Simple turning or flat – Arms are straight with a simple turning or are flat.

Wood – Solid wood, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or vertical splats.

Ladderback or Slatback – Equally spaced horizontal flat slats, either straight or curved.

	Round – Round, usually shaped or turned leg.
	Simple turning – Turned leg with a few types of turnings.
	Splayed – Leg with a concave shape.
	Square – Flat surfaced leg on all sides.
	Straight – Straight leg, vertical to chair seat.
	Tapered – Straight leg gradually decreasing in width.

	Cane – Woven rattan.
	Rush – Woven rush.
	Wood – Various types of wood.
	Woven – Woven material, usually heavyweight cloth.

Square – Square shaped seat.

Wooden Mushroom-Shaped Knob – Mushroom-shaped wooden knob, often 1 inch high and 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter.

Cotton – Fabric made from the fiber of the cotton plant.

	Oil Varnish – Clear finish that emphasized the grain of the wood.
	Paint – Opaque, pigmented finish that obscures the grain of the wood.

Continuation of leg – Leg does not terminate into a foot.

Wood – Various types of wood, carved or turned.

	Exposed Joinery – Visible joints that lock wood together.
	Dovetail – An interlocking wood joint in which a series of wedge-shaped projections fits into a series of alternating grooves.

	Slight Curve – Gently curving lines.
	Straight – Straight lines.

None.

Finial – Decorative turning affixed to the tops of case furniture, and chair and bed posts.

Medium – Moderate dimensions.(Queen Anne style shown)

Slender – Graceful use of stretchers.(Hepplewhite style shown)

	Ash – Whitish-gray American hardwood with similar graining to oak.
	Birch – Red-brown American hardwood with a close grain.
	Cherry – Red-brown American hardwood.
	Elm – Red-brown American hardwood.
	Fruitwood – Pink-brown American hardwood, including apple and pear.
	Hickory – Red-brown American hardwood.
	Maple – Golden to Red-brown American hardwood with a wide range of figures.
	Oak – Gray-brown American hardwood.
	Pine – Yellow to pink-brown American softwood.
	Sycamore – Creamy-white European hardwood, treated to turn a silvery-gray or pink-brown color.