Handcrafted shaker furniture vermont woods studios. Further, it examines shaker design and tools, reporting new research on the shaker color palette. 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. There were darker colors, and rather than have cluttered homes like in england, americans decided they would use an individual item of victorian style as a piece of furnishing rather than decorating the whole room with it alone. An extensive text provides a detailed account of shaker history, culture, and religion. The shaker movement declined during the second half of the 19th century, and many of the colonies were dissolved. A brief history of the rise and progress of the united society written by the early shakers and published as an appendix to the 4th edition of testimony of christs second appearing in 1856. The ladderback chair was a popular piece of furniture. Principles and beliefs by the sabbathday lake shaker village.
Like amish furniture, shaker style furniture is a reflection of the shaker faith. My first shaker book, published in that started my shaker series. The first book to cover all shakerdom from the 1700s to the 1980s, this work of scholarship will also prove accessible to the nonspecialist. History, culture and craft shire library usa book 8 by lesley herzberg. Choice 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. I enjoyed reading it as well as studying the colored pictures. 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. 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. The book is extremely well documented but found i sometimes did read through great amounts of detail. This article contains a list of inventions by the shakers, officially known as the united society of believers in christs second appearance. He was a prolific scribe, correspondent, and diarist who documented the history of the new lebanon, new york church family of shakers from 1815 to 1865. Shaker style furniture the peculiar grace of a shaker chair is due to the fact that it was built by someone capable of believing that an angel might come down and sit on it. The bright finish of our shaker server buffet by keystone is a modern take on timeless shaker furniture.
The shakers, formally the united society of believers in christs second appearing, are a christian cult that combines elements of quakerism and charismatic worship practices. Founded in the 18th century, the shakers, a celibate sect who lived a communal lifestyle, were known for their many innovative creations in varied fields including agriculture, furniture, housework, and medicine. Shaker craftsmen made most things out of pine or other inexpensive woods and hence their furniture was. Escaping persecution, the shakers founder, mother ann lee, and eight followers immigrated to the united states in 1774 and settled in watervliet, new york, north of albany. The shakers were originally a group of people who broke off from the english quakers. 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. 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. Books marked with an asterisk are available for sale at the hancock shaker village museum store.
Shaker dances and songs are a genuine folk art, and the simple beauty, functionalism, and honest craftsmanship of their meetinghouses, barns, and artifacts have had a lasting influence on american design. The book of shaker furniture university of massachusetts press. The village has operated exclusively as a museum since 1992 when the last shaker. Shaker manuscripts online prophecies, revelations and. Intrigued by the book s measured drawings of shaker oval boxes, he found construction very challenging. 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.
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. The modern or contemporary design age in furniture begins roughly with the start of the 20th century. Following are the most popular contemporary furniture styles created after 1800 sleek designs that prompted the move from the more ornate historic style. Isaac newton youngs july 4, 1793 august 7, 1865 was a member of the shakers. Shaker furniture essay the metropolitan museum of art. The founder of the shakers, ann lee, was a blacksmiths daughter and a mill hand in manchester, england. The book of shaker furniture university of massachusetts. As a hobby woodworker, i find this to be an unparralleled resource for inspiration. 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.
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. These craftsmen built furniture with simple lines and straightforward joinery, making the style a woodworker favorite. But it is well worth reading to discover the more complicated history of the group which goes beyond furniture and songs. I like that the book organised examples by geography so that you can see variations across areas.
Interest in the united society of believers in christs second appearing, the shakers, has steadily increased during the past forty years. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This novel was a finalist for ecpa fiction book of the year. Shaker furniture essay heilbrunn timeline of art history.
What book was to some extent modeled on the autobiography of fugitive slave josiah henson. According to the metropolitan museum of art, many pieces of shaker furniture were made with circular saws, steampowered lathes, and. They were celebrated for their model farms, orderly communities, furniture, decorative arts, and. The shakers were celibate, they did not marry or bear children, yet theirs is the most enduring religious experiment in american history. A short history of the shakers and the reproduction of their furniture in miniature by dr. Their beliefs were reflected in the wellmade furniture of minimalist designs. This is the definitive resource for shaker furniture. Known as a radical group during that time, the shakers adopted the name through religious worship that included shaking of the hands, arms and head. Using primary source materials, this book examines designs from specific shaker. 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. In the early 20th century there was a marked revival of interest in shaker furniture, outstanding examples of which are to be seen in the fruitlands museum, harvard, massachusetts, and in the shaker museum near auburn, kentucky. It began primarily with the books of edward deming andrews, whose scholarly commentary and illustrations of the exquisitely simple and functional shaker. The shakers manufactured the tilting chair for sale in the 1870s to people outside their community labeling them with shakers trade mark, mt. Shaker furniture made for the outside world or rescued from newly closed communities became highly coveted by collectors.
The greatest example of such influence is shaker furniture. Shaker experience in america a history of the united society of. Interestingly, as far as the shakers were concerned, handmaking quality furniture didnt mean that modern machinery was not used in its construction. 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. Its ongoing popularity is a testament to its enduring qualities. The following reading list of books and publications includes books that are out of print and only available through public libraries. This book gave me the info i needed but wasnt too drawn out.
No beautiful winding stairways or centre house in this one since it was set in the very early days of shaker history in ky. Book of shaker furniture by john kassay, hardcover. Looking for a more personal and emotional religion than the official church of england, in 1758 she joined a group called the wardley society that had left the quakers. With measured drawings of museum classics dover woodworking by john g. Here is an opportunity to read the shaker perspective of themselves and their place in history. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest techniques and howto from fine woodworking, plus special offers. The book of shaker furniture by john kassay hardcover. Winterthurr portfolio the fullest and most elegant presentation of shaker furniture published to date. The book of shaker furniture by john kassay, 1980 online. The presence of the art of the shakers in the world of design is not undeserved, but it is nonetheless strange.
In many shaker dwellings, a peg rail ran around the room at shoulder level, offering places to hang chairs, bonnets or baskets, an ingenious way of keeping the floors clean and the place tidy. The fullest and most elegant presentation of shaker furniture published to date. Books can be purchased at the store, or ordered via phone at 800 81717, ext. Originally made by followers of a religious group, shaker furniture was designed entirely for its functionality and practicality. Shaker craftsmen made their furniture out of lightweight woods like pine, so furniture could be easily picked up and moved around. I had purchased the book as was taking part in a road scholar trip to pleasant hill in kentucky, a restored shaker village. Shaker furniture designs are plain in appearance, stripped to bare essentials few. Fast forward a few hundred years and shaker style furniture has become increasingly popular for both traditional and modern homes. Of the more than one hundred experiments in communitarian living that proliferated in america during the nineteenth century, the untied society of believers in. Let the shakers inspire your next project in the shop.
It is a great source for history on the shakers, and pictures of the furniture from different locations. Buy cheap shaker books online shaker book rentals valorebooks. Seventyfive years before the emancipation of the slaves. I like that the book organised examples by geography so that. I wanted to know more about shaker furniture so i could help explain to my clients why they would or wouldnt want to do a shaker style in their home. A short history of the shakers in america shaker works west. Shaker hanging cabinet i f you own any books about the shakers or their furniture, you probably have seen a small storage cabinet like this one hanging in the background behind the more celebrated pieces. It differed in america because there, it was much more forbidding. Hired on short notice in 1980 to teach a woodworking class at lansing community college, he used shop drawings of shaker furniture and woodenware vol i by ejner handberg to suggest student projects. Gabhart, a simple murder by eleanor kuhns, the visionist by rachel urquhart, like the willow tree. Our amish heritage shaker kitchen island allows you to make shaker style a part of every meal. There are only two shakers left in the world smart news. 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.
Shaker style is known for being practical and simple down to the very last detail. Their beliefs can be hard to codify, as all congregants are allowed to prophesy and all prophecies are considered inspired. The shaker furniture handbook schiffer book for collectors by timothy d. The andrewses amassed a large collection of shaker furniture and domestic items, much of which now resides in museums throughout the country, including the metropolitan.