Pleasant hill shaker furniture popular woodworking. The shaker story provides fascinating insight into early american history, religion and culture. The village has operated exclusively as a museum since 1992 when the last shaker sister in residence, ethel hudson, died. Instead, the history of shaker furniture meant simple furniture was created to meet their basic needs. The shakers the united society of believers in christs second appearing are a religious sect that began as an offshoot of protestantism in england in the mid1700s.
Practical yet attractive, the furniture, textiles, tools and machinery of the shakers are utterly distinctive and became famous the world over during the twentieth century, with certain modernist architects and designers finding unexpected common ground with this decidedly nonmodern sect. Its clear crisp lines and singular lightness unite and transcend both traditional and modern settings, and for that reason it has remained a major creative force in our decorative art. It is undoubtedly going to become a classic in the literature about the shakers and their artifacts, holding a place with such pioneering studies as those of edward deming and faith. In this complement to his 1987 book shaker village views, robert p.
As a furniture designer and maker i have a great deal of admiration for the works of the shakers, whose influence is still huge. This book gives a good history of the shakers in general and pleasant hill in specific. The oral tradition of the shakers, gathered at the death of mother ann lee, insists on two dates for the origin of their movement. One of the most durable of american utopian experiments, their movement originated with a small band of english emigrants who arrived in new york in 1774.
The book of shaker furniture hardcover may 29, 1980 by john kassay author. Books marked with an asterisk are available for sale at the hancock shaker village museum store. Youngs, the scribe and historian for the new lebanon, new york, church family of shakers, preserved a great deal of information on the era of manifestations, which shakers referred to as mother anns work, in his domestic journal, his diary, sketches of visions, and his history, a concise view of the church of god. They called themselves the united society of believers in christs second appearing and soon became known as shakers. It is a great source for history on the shakers, and pictures of the furniture from different locations. Ann lee, the founder and later leader of the american shakers, and her parents were. Buy the book of shaker furniture by john kassay isbn. Using these power tools, shaker furniture makers reinterpreted traditional forms with an emphasis on utility and simplicity. He has written several woodworking books, including building shaker furniture, published by popular woodworking books. The shakers canterbury shaker village was established in 1792 when followers of founder mother ann lee formed their seventh community in canterbury, nh, which remained prominent for 200 years. Kerry pierce has built shaker furniture for over 20 years. May 17, 2016 faux finishes were also avoided because they were considered deceitful. For the shakers, a religious sect dating back to the 18 th century, creating shaker furniture that reflected their values was of the utmost importance.
Mission furniture came long after shake furniture took over the. Gabhart, the visionist by rachel urquhart, like the willow tree. Furniture built and used by the new lebanon believers is exhibited in the shaker retiring room at the metropolitan museum of art in new york city, which originated from the north family shakers 1818 first dwelling house. It began primarily with the books of edward deming andrews, whose scholarly commentary and illustrations of the exquisitely simple and functional shaker furniture introduced the american people to a design concept very different from the contemporary idiom. Deeply dedicated to ideals of communal living and asceticism, the shakers designed and constructed furniture. Of the more than one hundred experiments in communitarian living that proliferated in america during the nineteenth century, the untied society of believers in christs second appearing, whose adherents are best known as shakers, is certainly one of the most interesting, successful, and enduring. Shakers restaurants have a menu with a wide selection of foods, and we are always happy to work with our customers to accommodate any special requests or dietary needs. The shakers trace their beginnings to manchester, england, in 1747. Taking a look at the development of the influential shaker style provides inspiration for the modern home. Shaker furniture the presence of the art of the shakers in the world of design is not undeserved, but it is nonetheless strange.
Shaker furniture, furniture designed for the religious colonies of shakers founded in america in the last quarter of the 18th century, characterized by austerity of decoration and truth to materials. The furniture is described and photographed well enough for the amateur to. Illustrated catalogue and price list of the shakers. Shaker furniture is the one truly original american style of furniture. Shakers were constantly experimenting with laborsaving devices and much of their furniture was made with the aid of circular saws, mortising machines, and steampowered lathes. There are only two shakers left in the world smart news. Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs may increase your risk of food borne illness. The shakers developed along their own lines, forming into a society with jane and james wardley as their leaders. Story by christopher schwarz, executive editor shaker hanging cabinet i f you own any books about the shakers or their furniture, you probably have seen a small. Illustrated catalogue and price list of the shakers chairs, manufactured by the society of shakers, emporium publications, p. As you will see on these pages, shaker furniture and objects have a deep appeal for their warmth, honesty and graceful simplicity, which make them welcome almost anywhere.
Many of these images are reproduced here for the first time. The first modern history of the shakers, written by the yale university professor who discovered the shakers, their furniture, music, art, and industries and spent 35 years reading original shaker manuscripts and other primary sources, as well as interviewing the thenliving shakers. They called themselves the united society of believers in christs second appearing and soon became known as shakers because of the trembling, whirling, and shaking they engaged in during ecstatic worship services. Some of the most enduringly popular american antique furniture, known as shaker style, was made not by a single designer, but by a group of people who shared a set of beliefs and an aesthetic. The first modern history of the shakers, written by the yale university professor who discovered the shakers, their furniture, music, art, and industries and spent. This book is a fantastic resource, not only for the beautiful photography of furniture both freestanding and builtin but for the wellresearched historical and contextual writing.
The shaker furniture handbook schiffer book for collectors rieman, timothy d. The shakers, once a radical religious sect whose members were despised and harassed by their fellow americans, have in recent years become celebratedand sentimentalizedfor their communal way of life, the simplicity of their worship, their belief in celibacy, pacifism, and equality of the sexes, and not least, their superb furniture. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to barnes and noble, another book on shaker furniture has appeared in the shop window. Shaker furniture essay the metropolitan museum of art.
The material culture of the shakers, then, was completely aligned with these values. Of the more than one hundred experiments in communitarian liv. Facts and photos gathered in my research for my shaker books. Shakers books goodreads meet your next favorite book. A short history of the shakers and the reproduction of their furniture in miniature by dr. The shakers, once a radical religious sect whose members were despised and harassed by their fellow americans, have in recent years become celebratedand sentimentalizedfor their communal way of life, the simplicity of their worship, their belief in celibacy, pacifism, and equality of the sexes, and not least, their superb furniture and handicrafts. Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the united society of believers in christs second appearing, commonly known as shakers, a religious sect that had guiding principles of simplicity, utility and honesty. A simple murder by eleanor kuhns, the outsider by ann h. Its moniker and influence can be traced to a branch of christianity the shakers.
The book of shaker furniture by john kassay, 1980 online. Feb 15, 2016 shaker town is book 4 in the taryns camera series, about a woman who sees the past when she looks through her camera. The furniture, acquired in the 1970s, and shaker textiles are considered among the finest shaker collections in the world. Furniture makingshaker style, home woodworking, books. They were celebrated for their model farms, orderly communities, furniture, decorative arts, and architecture and for. Deeply dedicated to ideals of communal living and asceticism, the shakers designed and constructed. The shakers believe the history of the world is divided into four cycles, that of noah, moses, jesus, and the fourth reaching its culmination in ann lee who, as the female counterpart of jesus, the bride of jesus, and the mother of all spiritual things, is worthy of the same honor as jesus. The book of shaker furniture, which will become a standard reference work, is a tribute to his ability and to his subject. I like that the book organised examples by geography so that you. This book is a collection of furniture made by members of this remarkable. Books marked with an asterisk are available for sale at the hancock shaker. Jan 06, 2017 there are only two shakers left in the world one of americas oldest religious sects still survives sabbathday shaker village in new gloucester, maine used to be a thriving community.
The book of shaker furniture university of massachusetts press. It would eventually become a soughtafter style used in many homes today. Shakers compendium of the origin, history, principles, rules and regulations, government, and doctrines of the united society of believers in christs second appearing with biographies of ann lee, william lee, jas. The book of shaker furniture university of massachusetts. The shakers, a protestant religious denomination officially called the united society of believers in christs second appearing, originated in manchester, england in 1772 under the leadership of mother ann lee, who moved the nineperson group to new york in 1774. Some of the most enduringly popular american antique furniture was made not by a single designer, but by a group of people who believed in communal living and no sex. Book of shaker furniture by john kassay, hardcover. Its clear crisp lines and singular lightness unite and transcend both traditional and modern settings, and for that reason it has remained. Learn more shaker historic trail national register. Emlen identifies and explicates every known engraving or lithograph that pictured the shakers in the years of their greatest prosperity and before photography became popular in shaker communities. Choice if you collect shaker furniture, deal in it, or simply admire it, drop. Dec 04, 2017 shakers believed that crafting things by hand was an act of worship, so it is surprising that their furniture hasnt been displayed at the collectible design worlds most beloved event before now.
Book of shaker furniture by john kassay, hardcover barnes. Antiques if you collect shaker furniture, deal in it, or simply admire it, drop whatever you are doing and go out and buy john kassays the book of shaker furniture. A short history of the shakers in america shaker works west. Jan 19, 2012 at the same time, the shakers strove for perfection in their work, so that they might help create the perfect world that would herald gods return. Interest in the united society of believers in christs second appearing, the shakers, has steadily increased during the past forty years.
After a long and glowing description of the chairs. At its height, the shaker movement included some 6,000 members living in 19 villages stretching from maine to indianayet this tiny group of people had an impressive impact on american style and design. Their beliefs were reflected in the wellmade furniture of minimalist designs. This lovely book presents a wide array of extraordinarily fine examples of shaker furniture, household objects, textiles, religious drawings, and items made to sell. They made all their own furniture and furnishings, from brooms and baskets to beds and benches. The shakers, once a radical religious sect whose members were despised and harassed by their fellow americans, have in recent years become celebrated. A history of the shakers in america shaker works west. Shaker design gets its principals from the 18thcentury shakers community. Some of the most enduringly popular american antique furniture. The book is an asset for people who are attracted to things shaker and especially those interested in reproducing shaker furniture for use in everyday life. The shakers were a religious sect that flourished for most of the 19th century. It began primarily with the books of edward deming andrews, whose scholarly commentary and illustrations of the exquisitely simple and functional shaker furniture. If you collect shaker furniture, deal in it, or simply admire it, drop whatever you are doing and go out and buy john kassays the book of shaker furniture. Building furniture inspired by the shaker traditio in the style by editors of fine woodworkingfebruary 16, 2001 paperback jan 1, 1702 4.
Emlen identifies and explicates every known engraving or lithograph that pictured the shakers in the years of their greatest prosperity. The book of shaker furniture by john kassay goodreads. Winterthurr portfolio the fullest and most elegant presentation of shaker furniture published to date. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to barnes and noble, another book on shaker furniture. The style is most suitable to a country home although a shaker chair or cabinet can make a striking counterpoint in a modernist, urban setting. Coming to america from central europe beginning in 1774, the early shakers. Coming to america from central europe beginning in 1774, the early shakers sometimes referred to as shaking quakers due to their unusual form of physical worship searched for freedom of worship and action.
Books can be purchased at the store, or ordered via phone at 800 81717, ext. Drawing on the latest scholarship, this comprehensive, lavishly illustrated survey tells the story of the. See more ideas about shaker style, gift drawing and history. The book of shaker furniture by john kassay 1980, hardcover. The shaker furniture handbook schiffer book for collectors amazon. She is the author of three definitive books on shaker furniture, including most recently the. Genuine shaker antiques are hard to come by, but not exceedingly rare to support their communities, the shakers sold furniture to outsiders, who appreciated its superb quality. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The following reading list of books and publications includes books that are out of print and only available through public libraries. A visual tour of 150 pieces of classic shaker furniture. Kerry has written for woodwork magazine, woodcraft magazine and popular woodworking magazine.
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