The Shakers, a religious sect, first came to America in 1774 from England. Shaker communities were largely self-sufficient, which entailed their making practical, handmade furniture pieces for their own use. Even though some furniture companies today manufacture reproductions of genuine Shaker chairs, you can spot an original by inspecting the item carefully for design clues, such as the type of wood, specialty features, identifying marks and craftsmanship. Locate an expert to confirm a Shaker chair is genuine. A quick indicator that your chair is a reproduction is the absence of any typical age markings -- worn seats, scratched wood and a less-than-perfect finish. Look for special identifiers, such as numbers from the R.M. Wagan Factory, founded in 1872. This company sized their Shaker-made chairs from 0 to 7; look for the stamped number on the back of the front slat of a chair to determine its authenticity. You can also check for a decal on the inside runner of a rocking chair that identifies it as a genuine Shaker chair from the Wagan Factory.
Inspect a wood rocking chair for authentic "mushroom caps" on the end of each arm, which are small wood pieces that hold the arm on the front post tenon. Shakers didn't use imported woods, such as rosewood and mahogany, to make their chairs. Examine your chair to see if it is made from pine, maple or cherry, as these American-grown woods were typically used to construct the simple, but well-made seats. Because most chairs made by the Shaker community were covered with a brown-toned stain or a blue, green, red or yellow paint, check your chair for those hues. If your piece is coated with a clear finish or you can visibly see it was repainted, it might still be an original piece, but has undergone some obvious refurbishing. If you notice excessive ornamentation on a chair that you are evaluating for authentic Shaker craftsmanship, you can quickly determine it is definitely not genuine. It was the Shaker belief that excessive ornamentation encouraged the sin of pride; thus, this religious sect's chairs feature a minimalist and practical design.
Look for simplistic wooden chairs designed with wooden slats or ladder backs and woven rush or cane seats. Some Shaker chairs have a low, single-slat wooden back, which can conveniently slide under a table or hang on a wall when they are not in use. Look for antique specialty wooden chairs with rotating seats, tilting legs or rocking legs that can also indicate an authentic Shaker design. When you can't determine whether a chair is genuine or fake, find a professional furniture appraiser who is familiar with Shaker-style chairs to confirm whether you actually have an authentic piece. A certified appraiser can also provide you with a dollar estimate of your chair's value. Acquire the name of a reputable appraiser from your local bank, an estate attorney or another impartial source. Avoid resources that may have a motivation to acquire the property as inexpensively as possible, such as auction companies and second-hand furniture dealers. The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Shaker Furniture
CNN Money: Treasure or Trash? 10 Ways to Find Out Shaker Design: June Sprigg The A to Z of the Shakers: Stephen J. Paterwic You May Also Like Americans did not invent the rocking chair, though this style of chair has become associated with American culture. The Boston rocker, the... Humans have made furniture since ancient times. Ancient farmers made furniture such as dressers and cupboards out of stone. Antique kitchen chairs come in all styles and colors. They can have rush, caned, plank, woven and slat seats. To make your own chair bottom, select a durable material that is recommended for weaving, such as cane, which comes from the... Prior to the 1600s in Europe, the only people who could sit in chairs were the master and mistress of the home.... If you take the time to examine a Shaker and Mission style piece of furniture side-by-side, at first glance, it may be... A vintage rocking chair can make an elegant addition to any room in your home.
, most vintage rocking chairs---in... 22 DIY Ways to Update Your Home on a Small Budget Historic Rocking Chair Styles How to Identify a Rocking Chair Style How to Identify Antique Kitchen Chairs DIY Shaker Cabinet Drawers Homemade Redwood Adirondack Chairs How to Tell the Age of a Thonet Bentwood Wicker Rocker Crafting a Tappan ChairEstablished in 1979, John Keith Russell Antiques, Inc. specializes in pre-1860 American antiques in original, untouched condition with a primary focus on Shaker furniture and accessories. Our shop features a varied and changing inventory of Shaker and high country furniture. We consistently stock many related items of merit and interest such as baskets, boxes, clocks, redware, stoneware, paintings, gameboards, lighting devices, mirrors, tinware, woodenware, weathervanes, and folk art. Our special interest for over thirty years has been the material culture of the Shakers. In particular, those items produced in the eastern Shaker communities of Watervliet and New Lebanon, New York, Enfield, Connecticut, Canterbury and Enfield, New Hampshire, Harvard and Shirley, Massachusetts and Alfred and Sabbathday Lake, Maine.
Case furniture, clocks, desks, stoves, chests, tables and chairs along with smalls such as baskets, boxes, sewing items and other products of the Shaker industries may be found amongst our extensive inventory of Shaker antiques. We have placed significant pieces in both private and museum collections, many of which are illustrated in various catalogues and reference works. We welcome the beginning as well as the experienced collector. John Keith Russell Antiques Inc., opened in 1979 in South Salem, New York where it remains today. The shop is generally open every day except Monday from 11 o’clock to 6 o’clock year round. However, a call ahead is suggested and certainly appreciated. Please see the DIRECTIONS section for directions to the shop and check the CALENDAR section for our show schedule.Your Guide to Buying a Stunning Accent Chair on a Budget imageFurniture is a popular investment purchase for many people. While furniture buyers are not required to spend exorbitant amounts of money on individual pieces, it is undeniable that the very nature of furniture...