Shaker Dining Table with Marble Top c. 1953

Here, John W. Kelleher captures a Shaker dining table with a marble top, rendered with a focus on its simple elegance. The table itself, with its clean lines and sturdy stance, speaks volumes. Consider the table as a symbol: a central gathering point. In the Shaker tradition, communal meals held deep significance, representing unity, shared labor, and spiritual nourishment. Such tables weren't merely functional, but were also a potent symbol, echoing images of the Last Supper and other ritual feasts across cultures. The smooth, cool marble atop sturdy wooden legs brings to mind an altar, a place of sustenance and reverence. The act of gathering around a table resonates with early human rituals, where food and community were inextricably linked to survival and spiritual well-being. This simple piece, therefore, taps into our collective memory, inviting a sense of belonging and connection.