I’m wondering if there are any experts out there who could tell me what the Shakers used specifically to finish there furniture? I’ve seen photographs in books that only describe a finish as being painted, stained. or washed. What kind of paint and stain did they use, and can it be purchased today, or must I make it myself? How did they apply it?, and in what combinations? I have been making Shaker reproductions for a few years now, and have decided to go up another level and use historically accurate finishes. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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While I can't claim any particular expertise, my own reading on Shaker furniture leads me to believe that the Shakers used a variety of finishes, depending upon what was available and practical at the time. Decoration was a secondary concern, as the focus was on simplicity of design and construction -- which, of course, led to the beautiful plainness that many have come to appreciate.
As far as paint is concerned, my understanding is that the Shakers (and others of the time, of course) used milk paint, a combination of powdered dyes, lye and milk. Powdered milk paints are currently available at nearly any online or brick-and-mortar woodworking store (e.g., Woodcraft), and are available in a variety of colors. They're very simple to work with: simply add water, mix to the desired consistency and off you go. They have a matte finish, which can be glossed up -- if desired -- by topcoating with polyurethane, shellac, etc.
I don't have exact recipes for stains, but I would imagine they were based on naturally available materials, as in the walnut stains that have been described in various places in the Knots forum (a search will bring up several options).
Finally, I believe that the non-staining (well, maybe a little bit), non-paint finishes that would be used would be shellac or natural oils, such as linseed oil.
As a side comment, keep in mind that the Shakers were very inventive and modified their designs, construction methods, etc. to take advantage of available technology, etc. While I can understand the desire to make historically accurate reproductions, the Shakers themselves would probably be thrilled at many of the finishes available today, since many of the older finishes have distinct disadvantages. Many modern makers of Shaker-influenced furniture, e.g. Chris Becksvoort (sp?), Thos. Moser, etc., modify their pieces and methods accordingly.
Anyway, my 20-cents... I'm sure others will have more/better wisdom to share.
David
Look, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!
Dave, nice summary on Shaker finishes (and Shaker attitudes.) They weren't the least bit regressive when it came to technology...In fact, they are credited with inventing the circular saw blade as well as a lot of labor saving kitchen gadgetry. As for finishes, I doubt if their intention was to beautify, but rather simply to protect...Also, I seem to recall reading somewhere that a beeswax rub was one of their simpler treatments. They used milk paint a lot, but I don't think they were much into stains...Stains are hard to justify on purely utilitarian grounds...But it also depends on whether the product was for market or for communal use. They weren't above gussying up their market wares a bit, such as putting finials on their ladder back chairs and a few graceful profiles on case goods.
Davamoore is correct - all that I have read about Shaker finishing found it was constantly evolving. The Shakers embraced - and in some cases invented - new technologies so it really depends upon the Shaker community, the time period and the specific piece. There are several well written books that delve into the subject - do an internet search and you can develop a list of references. My favorite book is "The Complete Book of Shaker Furniture" by Rieman and Burks - a solid reference work.
>> constantly evolving
Have you ever been to Hancck Shaker Village in Massachusetts? It was once the east's largest community of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, and is now a living history museum. There are resident artisans for crafts such as woodworking, and some of their works are for sale in the gift shop. These works are labeled as Shaker-Style, because the artisans are not members of the Society. I'm not even sure if there are Believers anymore, as their austere and celibate lifestyle has not attracted converts in recent years.
We were browsing in the gift shop and I was tempted to buy a large, handsome piece of handmade, but of course it was more than I ought to spend. It was labeled as an "entertainment center." My husband dissuaded me by drily noting that it would be a perfect match for my traditional Shaker television and traditional Shaker stereo. Wise guy.
Edited 11/13/2002 1:28:48 PM ET by DWREAD
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