Canterbury Shaker Village

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.…

he Shakers were originally located in England in 1747, in the home of Mother Ann Lee. They developed from the religious group called the Quakers which originated in the 17th century. Both groups believed that everybody could find God within him or herself, rather than through clergy or rituals, but the Shakers tended to be more emotional and demonstrative in their worship. Shakers also believed that their lives should be dedicated to pursuing perfection and continuously confessing their sins and…