Shaker Chair Finials and Ball & Socket Foot c. 1936

Ray Holden made this watercolor painting of Shaker Chair Finials and Ball & Socket Foot. The Shakers were a religious sect, originating in England, that established a number of utopian communities in the United States. The principles of the Shakers emphasized pacifism, communal living, equality of the sexes, and withdrawal from worldly affairs. As you can see here, Shaker design was known for its simplicity, utility, and honesty. There’s an absence of ornamentation that reflected their spiritual values. These chair parts, meticulously rendered, display the beauty they found in function and order. The Shakers’ output included furniture, textiles, and architectural designs. These items are now seen as touchstones of American modernism, influencing generations of designers and architects. If you want to learn more, museum collections and archives offer a wealth of information on Shaker history and design principles. They underscore the value of considering design within its social and cultural framework.