Shaker Community. Chair, 1830–1870. Pine, 36 7/8 × 18 × 19 in. (93.7 × 45.7 × 48.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Oscar Bernstien, 77.84.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.84.2_PS9.jpg)
Shaker Community. Chair, 1830–1870. Pine, 36 7/8 × 18 × 19 in. (93.7 × 45.7 × 48.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Oscar Bernstien, 77.84.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.84.2_bw_IMLS.jpg)
Shaker Community. Chair, 1830–1870. Pine, 36 7/8 × 18 × 19 in. (93.7 × 45.7 × 48.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Oscar Bernstien, 77.84.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.77.84.2.jpg)
Chair
Decorative Arts and Design
The Shakers were a religious community that emigrated from England in the eighteenth century and were guided by the principles of honesty, simplicity, and practicality—qualities reflected in their furniture designs. Their works typically lack ornamentation, which was thought to be boastful and fetishize worldly goods. Instead, Shaker designs display an appreciation of raw materials and good craftsmanship.
This type of ladder-back chair was a core business for the Shakers. The rear feet are fitted with tilters, a Shaker invention that allowed the sitter to tip the chair backward without damaging the feet.
This type of ladder-back chair was a core business for the Shakers. The rear feet are fitted with tilters, a Shaker invention that allowed the sitter to tip the chair backward without damaging the feet.
MAKER
Shaker Community
MEDIUM
Pine
DATES
1830–1870
DIMENSIONS
36 7/8 × 18 × 19 in. (93.7 × 45.7 × 48.3 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
Impressed on top of back slat: "3"
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
77.84.2
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Mrs. Oscar Bernstien
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Slat-back with three slats joined to plain stiles. Woven split-wood seat, plain front legs joined across fron with two plain stretchers, two plain stretchers join front and rear legs on both sides. One plain stretcher joins rear legs. Rear legs are fitted at feet with tilters, a Shaker invention, which is a ball resting on a flat surface fitted into a socket and held in place with rawhide. Theis device allows the chair to be tipped backward by the sitter without damage to the rear legs or feet.
CONDITION: Much wear, seat in very bad condition, back leg missing fitted tilter ball at foot.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Shaker Community. Chair, 1830–1870. Pine, 36 7/8 × 18 × 19 in. (93.7 × 45.7 × 48.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Oscar Bernstien, 77.84.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.84.2_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 77.84.2_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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