#864 • Shaker Step Stool

Part of Super Salem Glen Estate (timed auction by The Swicegood Group)

High bid $22.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Oct 26, 2026 7:31 PM EDT

Shaker craftsmen in religious communities across New England and New York built functional furniture during the nineteenth century, prioritizing clean lines and practical utility above all else. They designed pieces like this one to help people reach high shelves in workshops and kitchens, where efficiency and simplicity guided every aspect of construction. Joiners used local hardwoods like pine and maple, assembling pieces with sturdy dovetail and tongue-and-groove joints to withstand daily wear. Members of the communities used these stools constantly in their dwellings, meetinghouses, and craft shops for climbing and occasional seating. The tall vertical backboard served as a convenient handhold so a person could safely carry the stool from room to room with one hand. Production of traditional household items gradually shifted from religious workshops to commercial manufacturers as the communities grew smaller during the twentieth century. Wooden stool with a tall upright handle post, round cutout hole near the top, exposed dovetail joinery, and slab legs with arched cutouts. Probably a step stool. Measures approximately two 8” by 13” and stands 33” tall.