Double Counter
Medium
Pine, applewood, pearwood
Dimensions
32 3/4 x 68 x 17 1/2 in. (83.2 x 172.7 x 44.5 cm)
Classification
Chest of drawers
Culture
American, Shaker
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Friends of the American Wing Fund, 1966
Accession Number
66.10.14
Art Historical Context
This double counter, crafted around 1825 by members of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing—commonly known as the Shakers—embodies the community’s deep commitment to simplicity, utility, and meticulous craftsmanship. Created for use in one of their communal dwellings or workshops, the piece practical purposes such as food preparation or storage while reflecting the Shakers’ belief that honest labor was a form of worship. Its clean lines and balanced proportions avoid unnecessary ornament, aligning with the sect’s rejection of worldly excess in favor of order and functio...