With only two Shakers left alive, this American religion group is likely to vanish. Yet there are designers who strive to keep their legacy alive through projects inspired by Shaker's wood furniture - an example of craftsmanship in its purest form. Mjölk, a lifestyle shop and gallery based in Toronto, holds an exhibition merging examples of Shaker's original furniture, 20th century European replicas and works of three commissioned designers.
"This weird cult movement from America... what is this group?" - jokes John Baker, Mjlk's owner, who is clearly aware who the Shakers are. Born in east coast of Canada, close to the last Shaker village, he came across their aesthetic and stresses how hard it is to avoid. However, he had only realised who they actually were through later Danish furniture, inspired by their work. Searching for images of Shaker's furniture, one may realize how familiar they look like - without previously acknowledging the religious movement's existence.
The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, known as Shakers, are a religious group, established in England in the 18th century. Their commonly known name originates from the worship practices, full of dances and symbolic gestures. Their larger communities have later existed across the US. …show more content…
At the time their work was rather unfashionable in America. Wooden furniture wasn't considered sophisticated at all, but that was not what motivated Shakers - "when they designed a chair, they thought the angel would come from heaven and sit on it, that was the level they were striving for". They were investing lots of time into their work to produce high quality, long-lasting objects, but simultaneously, they had to stay modest and
"This weird cult movement from America... what is this group?" - jokes John Baker, Mjlk's owner, who is clearly aware who the Shakers are. Born in east coast of Canada, close to the last Shaker village, he came across their aesthetic and stresses how hard it is to avoid. However, he had only realised who they actually were through later Danish furniture, inspired by their work. Searching for images of Shaker's furniture, one may realize how familiar they look like - without previously acknowledging the religious movement's existence.
The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, known as Shakers, are a religious group, established in England in the 18th century. Their commonly known name originates from the worship practices, full of dances and symbolic gestures. Their larger communities have later existed across the US. …show more content…
At the time their work was rather unfashionable in America. Wooden furniture wasn't considered sophisticated at all, but that was not what motivated Shakers - "when they designed a chair, they thought the angel would come from heaven and sit on it, that was the level they were striving for". They were investing lots of time into their work to produce high quality, long-lasting objects, but simultaneously, they had to stay modest and