Sewing Desk
Shaker
1860–70
Medium
Cherry, birch, ash and maple
Dimensions
106.7 × 80 × 68.9 cm (42 × 31 1/2 × 27 1/8 in.)
Classification
furniture
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
180498
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The Shakers, members of a Protestant sect who lived in celibate, agriculturally oriented communal cooperatives, are best known for their simple yet elegant furniture. By the mid-19th century, they gained a notable reputation for excellent craftsmanship, which enabled them to turn their cottage furniture industry into a major enterprise. The use of rectilinear lines, lack of ornamentation, and emphasis on function characterize simple and restrained Shaker furniture. This particular desk was inten...