Founded in 1776 by English immigrant “Mother” Ann Lee, the Shakers believed that the millennium was at hand and that the time had come for people to renounce sin. Shaker communities regarded their male and female members as equals; thus, both sexes served as elders and deacons. Aspiring to live like the early Christians, the Shakers adopted communal ownership of property and a way of life emphasizing simplicity. Dress was simple and uniform. Shaker architecture and furniture were devoid of ornaments. The two most striking characteristics of...