The U.S. Postal Service has introduced 12 new stamps celebrating Shaker design, marking the 250th anniversary of the Shakers’ arrival in America. The stamps were unveiled at the Shaker Hancock Village, where attendees explored a collection of Shaker furniture, crafts, and tools, including four designs featured on the stamps. The announcement is being promoted with the hashtag #ShakerDesignStamps.
The Shakers, known for their devout religious beliefs and commitment to simple living, created items marked by minimalist design and high functionality. Originating in England in the 18th century, they were a celibate, pacifist group known for their ecstatic worship practices. They immigrated to America in 1774, eventually settling near Albany, New York. By the 1840s, the Shakers had approximately 5,000 members in more than a dozen settlements across the northeastern United States.
Shaker design reflects the core values of Shaker life: honesty, humility, and simplicity. The Shakers viewed their work as a form of worship, aiming for perfection in everything they made. Their designs stripped objects to their essential elements, emphasizing durability, functionality, and minimalism. This approach has influenced many generations of architects, artisans, and crafters.
Today, the only active Shaker village is in Sabbathday Lake, Maine, with other settlements operating as living history museums. These museums allow visitors to experience Shaker design and lifestyle firsthand.
The 12 stamps, featuring photographs by Michael Freeman, are arranged in three rows of four stamps each. They highlight various aspects of Shaker design:
- Meeting room, Brick Dwelling, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, MA: Showcases Shaker design elements like built-in cupboards, a peg rail, a communal bench, and a cast-iron stove.
- Tannery, Shaker village of Mount Lebanon, New Lebanon, NY: Highlights the simple symmetry of Shaker architecture.
- Spinning wheel, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA: Emphasizes the functional and unadorned form typical of Shaker creations.
- Staircases, Trustees’ Office and Guest House, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, KY: Displays Shaker design’s organic form and light-filled spaces.
- Dwelling house hallway, South Union Shaker Village, Auburn, KY: Illustrates the dual-staircase design for men and women.
- Silk neckerchiefs, South Union Shaker Village, Auburn, KY: Reflects the Shakers’ early silk production efforts in the United States.
- Rocking chair, Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury, NH: Shows a chair designed for comfort and sold to the outside world.
- Bentwood box detail, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield: Features “swallowtail” joints that expand and contract without damage.
- Heater stove, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield: Demonstrates the efficient heating capabilities of a cast-iron stove.
- Cupboard with oval boxes, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard: Highlights Shaker emphasis on cleanliness and order.
- Bentwood boxes and carriers, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard: Shows the variety of shapes and sizes of Shaker bentwood boxes.
- Cheese baskets, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield: Displays baskets used in dairy farming to separate curds and whey.
Derry Noyes served as art director and designer for the stamp pane. The Shaker Design stamps are available in panes of 12 as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.