Interest in the united society of believers in christs second appearing, the shakers, has steadily increased during the past forty years. An extensive text provides a detailed account of shaker history, culture, and religion. Principles and beliefs by the sabbathday lake shaker village. In the intervening years, kassay has turned his attention to windsor furniture and has now produced an. An unusually comprehensive and eminently readable chronicle of more than two centuries of shaker life, from its rough beginning in the late 18th century to its diminished yet still significant. Further, it examines shaker design and tools, reporting new research on the shaker color palette. The book of shaker furniture university of massachusetts. The united society of believers in christs second appearing, more commonly known as the shakers, are a millenarian nontrinitarian restorationist christian sect founded circa 1747 in england and then organized in the united states in the 1780s. 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. The shakers were originally a group of people who broke off from the english quakers.
Its ongoing popularity is a testament to its enduring qualities. This is the definitive resource for shaker 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. Shaker furniture is the one truly original american style of furniture. Luce center for the study of american art, in tandem with the shaker textiles in. 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 is extremely well documented but found i sometimes did read through great amounts of detail. 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. I had purchased the book as was taking part in a road scholar trip to pleasant hill in kentucky, a restored shaker village. The minimalist style of shaker furniture is governed by the guiding principles of honesty, utility, and simplicity. This is a massive piece in both scope and volumeand a sturdy coffee table indeed would be required to support it adequately. Complementary alternative medicine new lebanon albany new york shaker furniture local history shaker style early american country style country living. Shaker furniture has changed little since its inception in the late 1700s by a christian denomination the shakers that stressed beliefs of simplicity and efficiency.
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. As new believers joined their community, they brought popularly styled federal period furniture with them and in turn influenced what the shakers made for use in their homes going forward. Fictional and nonfiction books about shakers, the shaker faith, and shaker arts. Intrigued by the book s measured drawings of shaker oval boxes, he found construction very challenging. Another hallmark of the shaker people was their invention of the. The furniture is described and photographed well enough for the amateur to. This book gives a good history of the shakers in general and pleasant hill in specific. Typical layout of buildings seen at watervliet shaker historic district, in albany, new york courtesy of shaker. 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. A classic in the literature about the shakers and their artifacts. The founder of the shakers, ann lee, was a blacksmiths daughter and a mill hand in manchester, england. I like that the book organised examples by geography so that. Espousing egalitarian ideals, women took on spiritual leadership roles alongside men, including founding leaders such as jane wardley, mother ann le.
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. Most of the furniture comes from the remaining villages that have now been converted into living history museums, and it is still possible today for anyone to purchase shaker furniture. The village has operated exclusively as a museum since 1992 when the last shaker. The book of shaker furniture university of massachusetts press. 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.
There are only two shakers left in the world smart news. Gabhart, a simple murder by eleanor kuhns, the visionist by rachel urquhart, like the willow tree. Shaker craftsmen made their furniture out of lightweight woods like pine, so furniture could be easily picked up and moved around. 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. The shakers produced the bulk of their furniture from 1820 to 1870 and continued producing chairs through the remainder of the 1800s. 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. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Today, the objects displayed in the shaker retiring room gallery 734 and in the henry r. The greatest example of such influence is shaker furniture. The shakers trace their beginnings to manchester, england, in 1747.
Shaker furniture essay the metropolitan museum of art. The shakers were ordinary people who chose to give up their families, property, and worldly ties in order to know, by daily experience, the peaceable nature of christs kingdom. 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. Winterthurr portfolio the fullest and most elegant presentation of shaker furniture published to date. 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 arts heritage for hundreds of years. 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. Includes a paragraph detailing each peice, a wonderful history of the shakers and their furniture, overall dimensions, and plans. The following reading list of books and publications includes books that are out of print and only available through public libraries. This monumental book is the first general history of the shakers from their origins in eighteenthcentury england to the present day.
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. 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. Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the united society of believers in. I like that the book organised examples by geography so that you can see variations across areas. Shakers separated themselves from the outside world in an attempt to be selfsufficient. The shaker story provides fascinating insight into early american history, religion and culture. 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. The book of shaker furniture by john kassay, 1980 online. Our amish heritage shaker kitchen island allows you to make shaker style a part of every meal. By the 1960s, the museum was actively collecting shaker furniture and, in the 1970s, acquired a room from the shaker community of new lebanon, new york. 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.
Furniture makingshaker style, home woodworking, books. 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. The complete book of shaker furniture by timothy d. Isaac newton youngs july 4, 1793 august 7, 1865 was a member of the shakers. The bright finish of our shaker server buffet by keystone is a modern take on timeless shaker furniture.
Books marked with an asterisk are available for sale at the hancock shaker village museum store. Greek furniture styles were simple, elegant and tasteful. 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. 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 shaker movement declined during the second half of the 19th century, and many of the colonies were dissolved.
Books can be purchased at the store, or ordered via phone at 800 81717, ext. They grew their own food, constructed their own buildings, made their own tools, and handcrafted their own furniture. Shaker furniture made for the outside world or rescued from newly closed communities became highly coveted by collectors. 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. 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. When john kassay published the book of shaker furniture in 1980, it was universally praised for its exquisitely rendered and finely detailed drawings of shaker furniture.
As a hobby woodworker, i find this to be an unparralleled resource for inspiration. Here is an opportunity to read the shaker perspective of themselves and their place in history. 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. Book of shaker furniture by john kassay, hardcover. They were initially known as shaking quakers because of their ecstatic behavior during worship services.
Using primary source materials, this book examines designs from specific shaker. Shaker manuscripts online prophecies, revelations and. 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. She is the author of three definitive books on shaker furniture, including most recently the. The united society of believers in christs second appearing, more widely referenced as the shakers, are wellknown for their furniture today, especially their chairs. The presence of the art of the shakers in the world of design is not undeserved, but it is nonetheless strange. A short history of the shakers and the reproduction of their furniture in miniature by dr. But it is well worth reading to discover the more complicated history of the group which goes beyond furniture and songs.
A history of the shakers in america shaker works west. New listing classic herman miller modern furniture ref history book. Although carving and inlays were used, furniture was not overdecorated. Using primary source materials, this book examines designs from specific shaker communities and individual cabinetmakers. 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. 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.
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. 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 greek history of furniture can be traced back to the heritage of egyptian furniture, evolving into softer lines, subtle and elegant curves, and more attention was given to comfort. Other shaker villages made furniture, including chairs, solely for use in their homes and businesses and trade of these items remained within the confines of the communities. 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. 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 can be hard to codify, as all congregants are allowed to prophesy and all prophecies are considered inspired. The shakers produced many incredible furniture objects.