Walnut Shaker Candle Stand

The Shakers might not have approved of this side table; the astonishing walnut top is surely a temptation, to distraction if nothing else. Closely based on a piece at the Boston Museum of Art, it pays homage to one of the great designs in American furniture. I built a pair of these from a single plank of black walnut, with a handplaned top and gently softened edges, traditional sliding dovetail leg joints, and a lustrous finish.