About Homestead
Homestead is a Japanese brand under Axcis, Inc., a Japanese interior company founded in 1988. The brand's first products grew partly out of the company's roots in trading American country-style decorative objects and dolls.
One of the first products under the Homestead name was a folding chair, designed with inspiration from classic European garden chairs.
Homestead's products are designed in Japan and created with a focus on natural materials, quality craftsmanship and considered detail, guided by a philosophy of choosing the timeless over the trendy.
Studio Hafnia is the exclusive retailer of Homestead in Denmark. The collection is not carried by any other Danish retailer.
The Shaker collection – a philosophy from the 18th century
The Shaker collection has its roots in the American Shaker community, which in the 18th and 19th centuries made furniture and household objects from one simple idea: beauty is utility.
The Shakers held that good design should be functional, durable and honest – and that beauty should arise naturally from materials, proportion and craftsmanship.
The collection comprises oval and round storage boxes, a sewing box, a box with a swing handle and a round tray – all in cherry wood, shaped around the characteristic Shaker forms.
Beauty in function
The iconic oval Shaker boxes are among the finest examples of this approach. Originally used for the practical storage of dry goods and small kitchen utensils, their simple form and fine craftsmanship have made them timeless.
Homestead has drawn on this tradition and interpreted the Shaker vocabulary for the modern home.
Traditional craft and copper rivets
The collection is made from cherry wood and combines traditional techniques with a simple, functional design. The characteristic swallowtail finger joints and the small copper rivets give the boxes their distinctive look – and they are also the reason the form lasts: the fingers let the wood move with the seasons, while the rivets keep the joint stable year after year.
Cherry wood is a living material. The colour deepens and patinates over the years, and the grain differs from box to box. Objects made for everyday use, yet beautiful enough to leave on display.
Sizes and selection
Oval boxes
- Shaker Oval Box SS – H6 × W16.2 × D11 cm
- Shaker Oval Box S – H8.3 × W21.6 × D14.6 cm
- Shaker Oval Box M – H10.8 × W27.9 × D20.3 cm
- Shaker Oval Box L – H15.9 × W34.3 × D24.7 cm
Round boxes
- Shaker Round Box SS – H6 × Ø12.8 cm
- Shaker Round Box L – H25 × Ø30 cm
Also in the collection
- Shaker Sewing Box – two-tier sewing box, H9.3 × W22.7 × D15.7 cm
- Shaker Swing Handle Box – with swing handle, H22 × W28 × D20.3 cm
- Shaker Round Tray Basic – round tray, H2.5 × Ø30 cm
Caring for the cherry wood
Wipe the boxes with a dry or barely damp cloth and dry them straight away. The wood absorbs water, so they should not be soaked or rinsed under the tap. Avoid long spells in direct sunlight, which bleaches the surface unevenly. If the wood looks dry after some years, a thin coat of food-safe wood oil will revive it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Shaker box?
An oval or round box of thin bent wood with swallowtail finger joints and copper rivets. The form was developed in the American Shaker communities in the 18th and 19th centuries for practical storage, and it has barely changed since.
Are the boxes handmade?
We do not describe them as handmade, because they are produced in series. They are, however, built on the classic Shaker principles – bent cherry wood, finger joints and copper rivets – rather than as an imitation in pressed wood.
What can I use them for?
The small ones for jewellery, hair accessories, keys and odds and ends. The medium ones for stationery, craft materials and toiletries. The large ones for textiles, magazines and hats. The sewing box has two tiers and several compartments, and the tray works both for serving and as a gathering base for candles, vases and ceramics.
Can they get wet?
No. The cherry wood is untreated on the inside and must be kept dry. See the care section above.
Why do two boxes not look identical?
Because cherry wood is a natural material. Grain and colour vary from piece to piece, and every box deepens in colour over the years. It is not a flaw – it is the material.
Can I see them in person?
Yes. You are welcome in our showroom in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, where you can see the wood in daylight and feel the material.
Homestead at Studio Hafnia
At Studio Hafnia you will also find a selection of other Japanese design objects where function, materials and craftsmanship come together. Explore our Japanese design, our Japanese ceramics, Japanese bowls and cups and mugs.
The Shaker boxes sit naturally alongside the rest of our storage – and the tray finds its place in tableware. See also our full interior selection.