About this Product
Shaker wooden tray
Authentic Shaker Birch Serving Trays, Size 6
Dimensions in Inches: 11 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 1 1/4
30" circumference
Materials:
Birch Wood
Copper Tacks
Finish:
hand-rubbed oil varnish
This Shaker Birch Tray is made in the spirit of the Shaker dedication to quality, perfection, and simple grace. This tray is impeccably made in the Shaker-banded handmade design and craftsmanship. This handmade Shaker serving tray would make a stunning addition to a dining room, bathroom, entryway, or bedroom. The tray's simple but elegant design is in itself a work of art and can be displayed in your home with ease. In addition, it can be used to organize a centerpiece, tabletop, or dresser top to hold odds and ends. They also make a lovely wedding gift, housewarming gift, or birthday gift.
Who were the Shakers?
The Shakers, who began their history in Manchester, England, in the mid-18th century, practiced their beliefs in communities where members devoted themselves to work and worship. Shaker craftsmen and craftswomen incorporated their principles into their work: durability, simplicity, utility, perfection, and grace. Their communal lifestyle freed them from the economic pressures of life experienced by craftsmen in the world; therefore, in such an atmosphere the finest work was expected and accomplished.
Shaker Designs by R V Simo
Meet the Maker
Shaker Designs by R V Simo
Handmade Shaker box and other Shaker Designs. I was inspired by the diligent hands of Shaker craftsmen years ago. I create the same traditional boxes, cupboards, trays, clocks, tables and more. I have mastered the same techniques used by these hardworking people to create timeless, serviceable wooden goods.
How it’s Made
Each Authentic Shaker Birch Serving Tray begins with carefully selected birch wood, prized for its fine grain, light tone, and strength. Following traditional Shaker methods, the wood is hand-cut and shaped into thin, even strips for the sides, then gently steamed until pliable. This steaming process softens the fibers, allowing the wood to be bent gracefully around a custom form that gives the tray its signature oval shape.
Once bent, the overlapping ends—known as the distinctive Shaker “fingers”—are skillfully secured by hand using authentic copper tacks, just as the original Shaker craftsmen did more than two centuries ago. The tray’s base is precisely fitted and sanded smooth, creating a seamless connection that’s both beautiful and durable.
To finish, each tray is coated with a hand-rubbed oil varnish, enhancing the natural warmth of the birch while protecting the surface with a soft, lasting sheen. This finishing process deepens the color over time, giving every tray a character and patina unique to its owner.
Made entirely by hand, this Shaker Birch Tray reflects the Shaker ideals of simplicity, utility, and grace. Whether used as a serving piece, centerpiece, or decorative accent, each tray carries forward a legacy of craftsmanship devoted to perfection and quiet beauty.
