In 1916, Sir Ernest Shackleton, famous Antarctic explorer and cousin of Charles Shackleton (also born in Ireland - about 30 miles away from Ernest) set out on an expedition that, on its surface, failed to achieve any of its stated goals, but in other ways achieved the most incredible success in demonstrating the strength of the human spirit. This story (actually about three dramatic adventure stories rolled into one, where all his 28 men survive all three dramas) has become an icon for modern times.

In 1981, Charles Shackleton immigrated to the United States from Ireland with a mission to create a small company designing functional objects for the home. These inanimate objects not only emphasized the functional, but more importantly emphasized the strength and quality of the human spirit. In a world where technology has all but taken over, Shackleton felt that there would be increasing demand for objects that people could place in their home that had “Soul” or a meaning beyond just the visual.

Shackleton firmly believes that the intrinsic value of the furniture lies in the fact that each piece is made from start to finish by one individual and because each piece involves a huge contribution of the imperfect but highly skilled human hand. Despite the reliance on each person’s individuality, the company works as one coherent team, to design, make and market this very unusual but very beautiful functional art for the home. While other stifling factories churn out identical but somewhat lifeless objects at half the price, ShackletonThomas relies on the beauty and strength of the human spirit to create objects that are designed to inspire and become statements of their owner's high aspirations.

Shackleton has himself been to the Antarctic and his brother, Jonathan, is one of the leading authorities on their ancestor. Sir Ernest Shackleton died at the young age of 47 in 1922. He left a legacy that has now become the “Gold Standard” of leadership qualities, which emphasizes the importance of looking after and understanding your people as much as the material matters at hand. Charles Shackleton's company produces objects whose primary purpose is exactly that.