In The Shaker Style
Building Furniture Inspired By The Shaker Tradition

Shaker furniture is beautiful, yet simple, craftsmanship. In the Shaker Style, from the pages of Fine Woodworking magazine, you'll find the ideas and techniques of more than 15 contemporary artisans and instructions for more than 10 projects, from Shaker chairs to bookcases. Detailed illustrations and photographs accompany each project. In addition, you'll see how distinctive Shaker details can be adapted for use in today's furniture.

In The Shaker Style includes:

• complete instructions for building a wall shelf, bathroom vanity, Shaker round stand, Shaker revolver and more
• techniques for incorporating Shaker design details in contemporary furniture
• design inspiration for entertainment centers, cupboards, and corner tables

Introduction:

It seems somehow ironic in this age of fast computers, Internet communications, robust power tools, and a strong economy that we should be so in love with the furniture that was designed and built more than a century ago by the artisans of a small religious sect. Or maybe its not so incongruous after all. Perhaps our hurried, complicated, high-tech lives leave us longing for some spiritual simplicity.

The Shakers sought to have their belongings, as well as their souls, reflect the tenets of their religion: simplicity, pacifism, utility, economy, prudence, and a striving for perfection. These beliefs resulted in furniture that had clean lines, lacked ostentatious decoration, and showed great uniformity and attention to detail.

These attributes also appeal to the woodworkers who make furniture in their humble workshops. The Shakers taught them that beauty can be found in the proportions, the clean profiles, the simple joinery, the use of readily available local woods, and the near perfection of a talented craftsman's handwork. While most of today's woodworkers stick closely to authentic historical details, they have adapted these details to forms the Shakers would not recognize, such as coffee tables, display cases, and entertainment centers.

The editors of this book have assembled information from the pages of Fine Woodworking and Home Furniture magazines to help you explore this handsome furniture. The book is divided into three sections. Part One covers the historical background and hallmarks of Shaker furniture. Part Two contains techniques and projects to get you started making your own Shaker-inspired pieces. Part Three includes inspirational examples made by some of the best artisans now practicing the woodworking craft. I hope the ideas in this book prove as motivational to you as they have been to the woodworking editors here at The Taunton Press. If you are like me, you'll want to head quickly to your shop to start making your own beautiful Shaker-inspired furniture.
-- Tim Schreiner, editor of Fine Woodworking and former editor of Home Furniture

Table of Contents:

Part One: Style & Design

The Origins of Shaker Furniture: Jean M. Burks
Elements of the Shaker Style: Chris Becksvoort
Shaker Built-In Furniture: Tim Rieman
Designing on the Go: A Coffee Table Takes Shape: Peter Turner
A Modern Makeover for a Shaker Linen Press: Peter Turner

Part Two: Projects & Techniques

The Shaker Revolver: Mario Rodriguez
Shaker Sewing Stand Remains Stylish, Practical: Robert Treanor
Build a Shaker Round Stand: Chris Becksvoort
Building a Strong, Light Carcase: Garrett Hack
Build a Bookcase with Doors: Chris Becksvoort
Build a Wall Shelf: Peter Turner
Desktop Storage: Chris Becksvoort
Workbenches in the Shaker Tradition: Steven Thomas Bunn
Break Out of the Bathroom Vanity Box: Ian Ingersoll
Shaker Tall Clock: Robert Treanor
Shaker Oval Boxes: John Wilson
Molding that Stays Put: Chris Becksvoort
Weaving Shaker Tape Seats: Glenn A. Carlson

Part Three: Inspiration

Slat-Back Armchair: Glenn A. Carlson
Shaker-Inspired Corner Table: Eric Gesler
Cherry Side Table: Peter Turner
Dining Table in the Shaker Style: Cees Otte
Shaker Collectors Cabinet: Chris Becksvoort
Shaker-Style Apothecary Chest: Thom Duprex
Entertainment Center: James DeSalvo
Entertainment Center on a Tight Budget: Paula Garbarino
A Shaker-Inspired Cupboard: Aaron Hiltebeitel

Contributors

Credits
 

Soft-cover, 8-1/2 x 10-7/8 in., 160 pages, with color photos and drawings
Published 2001

ISBN: 978-1-56158-396-6