Shaker Design

Customer Reviews:

great book of shaker creations.......2007-07-18

bunch of clear pics,interesting info about each piece.
even if you not particular of shaker craftsmanship or design,,,youll like this book.

if you have even a little interest in woodworking,but arent partial to shaker design,i bet you could spot 10 pics of items in this book youd want to try n build.
if you work with wood,youll want this tome. [always wanted to use that word.] ;-)

The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style

Average customer rating:

Truly excellent
Great Reference For Your Bookshelf
A MOST INTERESTING WORK.
The Shaker Legacy
Combines knowledge of the Shakers with solid know-how

The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style
Christian Becksvoort
Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1561582182
Release Date: 1998-09-01

Amazon.com

Many appreciate the clean, simple lines of traditional Shaker furniture, yet few know the people behind the designs or the spiritual beliefs that play such an integral part in both their work and daily lives. In his book, The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style, author Christian Becksvoort, a contributing editor of Fine Woodworking magazine and an experienced custom furniture maker and restorer who's worked for the last remaining Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake, Maine, examines the Shakers' faith in relation to their furniture. Becksvoort believes that "understanding Shaker furniture requires understanding the faith of the people who created it." Their religious practices--the constant striving for spiritual perfection in everything they did, the desire to emulate Christ and to live practically, "purely, free of vanity, greed, and pride"--permeate Becksvoort's insightful discussions of the Shaker culture, their recognized inventiveness (inventions include the circular saw, apple peeler, wash mill, and chimney cap), their influence on other furniture styles, and finally the furniture itself, which is the focal point of the book. Highly perfected, free of vain ornamentation, and utterly utilitarian, the furniture is indeed the Shaker faith in physical form. In addition to covering the classics--including the ladder-back chair, trestle table, and the built-in--Becksvoort points out subtle variations in design that existed from community to community: the curved, cutout base of a case of drawers was typical for the communities in Ohio, while bevel-edged drawer lips and straight, tapered feet on a blanket box point to the Mount Lebanon community. Becksvoort's intelligent account of the Shakers and their furniture, combined with hundreds of full-color photographs, taken on location at various communities and pulled from archives, make The Shaker Legacy a beautiful tribute to these talented craftsmen and their enduring design. --Stefanie Hargreaves

Book Description

Solid construction and honest functionality make Shaker furniture one of the most popular and timeless design categories. Based on extensive research and personal experience with the last working Shaker community in Maine, this book traces the roots of Shaker design to Shaker belief, which inspired the clean lines, careful craftsmanship, and signature details that define the style. The author also discusses the less known Victorian period of Shaker design and shows how this style has influenced subsequent ones. A bibliography, glossary, and index are included. "As if the content isn't enough, readers will enjoy this book for its clean, upbeat writing. For anyone looking for a primer on the Shaker movement and the furniture it spawned, this is a good selection." - Antique Week Central

Customer Reviews:

Truly excellent.......2005-08-10

This is a truly excellent book that should be on the shelves of all who work with wood, even those of you who, like myself, are not particularly keen on shaker furniture.

The first part of the book overviews the Shakers and their attitudes to working with wood, their seeking of elegant simplistic functional beauty and their enjoyment of the process of working with wood - these are an inspiration to the modern woodworker, all of whom I suspect share the same enjoyment of the process and attention to detail, regardless of their chosen style. The Shakers themselves are quite interesting, and their attitudes of constantly improving and making work easier, more joyful and freeing time for better pursuits than toil are a mantra we all should live by, perhaps. Although the Shakers were very minimalist, I believe many other great craftsmen of the past shared their attitudes and enjoyment of the process of making furniture.

The second part of the book details many fine examples of Shaker furniture. These are great items, well made, well designed, and even if the style is not your preferred one, they still may inspire you.

Note that it is NOT a "how-to" book as another reviewer pointed out, although if you have some skill you could easily reproduce the items in it ? more importantly, be inspired by them.

I have an extraordinary library of woodworking and furniture books covering all styles and all ages and I would definetely recommend this one as being in the top 10% - but I have to stress, it is not a how-to book, look elsewhere if you are looking for that.

Finally, thanks to all the other reviewers here who convinced me to purchase it, I had seen it in the shops before but passed it over (not preferring Shaker style). I will now go tick all your reviews as being helpful.

Did I mention it is absolutely full of colour photos, sidebars of interesting information and very readable and interesting?

Great Reference For Your Bookshelf.......2005-04-25

This book is an interesting and pleasant blending of American history, philosophy, furniture design, and woodworking.
I have read/studied several other books concerning Shaker furniture. This hardcover printing of Mr. Becksvoort's book has, by far, the finest and clearest photography and printing.

A MOST INTERESTING WORK........2004-03-03

I have many books, new and old, on various styles of furniture, their designers, and construction techniques. This was a great addition to my library. I have learned much from it. I appreciate the detail the author went to in this work. It is not your typical lightweight coffee table book, but shows an understanding of, and respect for, the various Shaker communities and their many contributions to our way of life, not the least of which is their beautiful furniture.

The Shaker Legacy.......2004-01-13

Aways had an interest in making Shaker Furniture;and it's origin .Found this Book very formative and informational;enjoyed.

Combines knowledge of the Shakers with solid know-how.......2003-06-21

" author Christian Becksvoort, a contributing editor of Fine Woodworking magazine and an experienced custom furniture maker and restorer who's worked for the last remaining Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake, Maine, examines the Shakers' faith in relation to their furniture." ~Amazon review
This attractive volume does not attempt to give directions on how to build Shaker style furniture. What it does do, and does it very well, is to describe the philosophy of the Shakers in relation to their work. The book has as its focus the Shaker's most visible and well-known product - their furniture. Each piece in the book was carefully examined by Mr. Becksvoort and photographed by Mr. Sheldon. Some pieces are not available to the public. Construction, finish, and accurate description of each piece distinguish this work. Mr. Becksvoort knows what he is looking at, he has had the privilege of restoring and closely examining the furniture of the Sabbathday Lake, Maine, Shaker Village. What he does not do is tell you how to build each piece. But if you are a clever and intelligent woodworker, perhaps you will be inspired to design your own project with an eye to the timeless design of the Shakers. Take the challenge, inspire yourself!

In the Shaker Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Shaker Tradition (In The Style)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book

In the Shaker Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Shaker Tradition (In The Style)

Manufacturer: Taunton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1561583960
Release Date: 2001-02-15

Book Description

The Shakers wanted their belongings to reflect the simplicity and perfection revered in their religion. Their furniture, with its clean lines and attention to detail, is still the most popular style of furniture more than a century after it was first designed. This book walks readers through a variety of Shaker-inspired projects ranging from beginning to advanced. It provides an overview of hallmark Shaker details, illustrated step-by-step instructions, and a gallery of photographs of successful projects.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2001-03-21

This book covers the design elements and construction of Shaker styled furniture. It also lightly covers the history.

There are several plans, unfortunately not the one on the cover. But, it should not be too hard to take what's in the book and create a plan for it as sizes are given.

Book Description

In this pioneering study, historian Scott T. Swank reveals the links between the daily life of the Shakers in their planned religious communitites and their artand architecture.

As the Director of Canterbury Shaker Village, the author has had unlimited access to the Village's archives, resources, and grounds, examining papers and artifacts, exploring the 25 remaining buildings, and experiencing the seasons. He has literally been able to walk in the footpaths of the Canterbury Shakers, whose community remained prominent for 200 years. It is one of the oldest, most typical, and most completely preserved of all the Shaker villages, the only community with an intact first-generation meetinghouse and first dwelling house on their original sites. The result of the author's painstaking research and close observation is this perceptive book, filled with discoveries, presentingthe full sweep of Shaker art and architecture in the context of a specific Shaker community in Canterbury, New Hampshire.

Two centuries ago, the Shakers established America's most successful communal societies. They lived in isolated, rural villages, pursuing work and worship in communitieswhere religion, social behavior, and environmental design were constructed as a harmonious whole. These utopian communities were regulated by "gospel order" which assured their members that their disciplined lives were in harmony with God's will. In these spiritual havens, they endeavored to accomplish their founder's twin mandates,"Hands to work, hearts to God."

Shaker designs have endured long after the communities that created them have passed from the American scene. Shaker style, encompassing all elements of art and architecture, has been greatly esteemed for its craftsmanship, sense of proportion, simplicity, and practicality. The author's well researched text, detailed captions, and excerptsfrom diaries and letters bring life to the legacy of Shaker objects as well as to the architecture. He also provides a time line, a bibliography, and notes.

Accompanying the text are 250 illustrations including 150 in color principally by Bill Finney, who has been photographing Canterbury for over twenty years. There are alsohistorical pictures and maps and newly created plans and diagrams.

This insightful book should especially interest collectors, historians, interior designers, and architects, giving readers a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Shakers'artistic legacy.

Other Details:250 illustrations, 150 in full color240 pages10 x 10"Published 1999

Customer Reviews:

Deceptive marketing.......2000-04-23

I had no idea this book only covers the former Shaker village at Canterbury, New Hampshire. The title and cover of this book indicates a comprehensive treatment of Shaker buildings, not just one village. None of the info available . . . amazon.com indicated the true nature of this book. This is a real problem with buying books sight-unseen from internet booksellers. Nonetheless, this is a good book about Canterbury. But some of the finest Shaker buildings are in Kentucky, and the only buildings still inhabited by modern Shakers are in Maine. All these and more are in Julie Nicoletta's definitive book, "The Architecture of the Shakers." It's also a better price!

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Shaker Style: The Gift of Simplicity
Candace Ord Manroe
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

A Fine Introduction to the Shakers

The People Called Shakers
Edward D. Andrews
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486210812

Book Description

Definitive study provides detailed coverage of origins, ideology, industry and art, mode of worship, internal organization of communities. Author's reliance on original manuscript material, contemporary illustrations make this study especially useful to students of American social and religious movements. 33 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

A Fine Introduction to the Shakers.......1999-10-21

The Shakers were a religious group founded in England and transplanted to America in Colonial Times. Their aim was to live a "simple" life. They founded numerous villages throughout New England, where they shared a communal existence based on farming, carpentry, and furniture-making. Today the Shakers are virtually extinct but they are best-remembered for their distinctive furniture.

Edward D. Andrews was an authority on the Shakers and he wrote several books on these fascinating people. This one is a good place to start your study. Then move into his "Work & Worship Among the Shakers," before getting into books by other authors on the subject.

Customer Reviews:

Good and Complete.......2001-07-19

This book is a very pleasing combination of words and pictures. The author spreads the illustrations throughtout the text, drawing the reader into the flow of his thoughts. It is a complete treatment of the Shakers - from their history, their way of life and worship and their enduring legacy to our country. Mr. Horsham acknowledges the existence of a small number of Shakers in the Sabbathday Lake community in Maine which is a pleasant change from many of these type of books. Although the main focus of his work is on the beautiful worksmanship of the Shakers he does a credible job of explaining their theology and the all encompassing effect that theology had on their lifes and work. He also includes information on the spread of the Shakers community as well as the contraction that they experienced as the society around them changed, making their lifestyle less attractive to the "world's people". Definately a good value for the price, enjoyable for the neophyte Shaker enthusiast as well as the more "obsessed" among us.

Good and Complete.......2001-07-19

Shaker Built: The Form and Function of Shaker Architecture

Average customer rating:

Pretty, but Pretty Vacuous
Pretty, but Pretty Vacuous
great book

Shaker Built: The Form and Function of Shaker Architecture
Paul Rocheleau , and June Sprigg
Manufacturer: Monacelli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1885254032

Customer Reviews:

Pretty, but Pretty Vacuous.......2000-04-06

"Shaker Built" is "Shaker Lite". Lots of postcard pictures from the most popular Shaker villages. And lots of cliches about Shaker life, work, and art. "Shaker Built" will look nice on the coffee table, but for brains and beauty, check out Nicoletta's "Architecture of the Shakers".

Pretty, but Pretty Vacuous.......2000-04-06

great book.......2000-03-21

this is an excellet book,, really enjoyed it. makes you want to travel to america just to have alook at all buildings.

Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gift Drawings and Gift Songs

Average customer rating:

Easy to understand, many never-before-seen pictures

Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gift Drawings and Gift Songs
N. Y.) Drawing Center (New York
Manufacturer: University of Minnesota Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0816640696

Book Description

During the spiritual revival known as "Mother Ann's Work" or the "Era of Manifestations" (1837-1850), Shakers throughout the eastern United States experienced instances of intense communion, believing they served as instruments for heavenly spirits. Moved by a dream state or ecstatic possession, these (mostly) women and girls perceived images, songs, and texts that were recorded in writing, drawing, or a combination of both. A flourishing of art in a culture that had previously condemned all forms of image making, the works were considered spiritual bequests, not individual creations, and became known as "gift drawings" and "gift songs." Thousands of gift songs were written down during this time, becoming an integral part of the culture of the Shaker community. Only two hundred rarely seen drawings remain in existence.

Published to accompany the most significant exhibition of Shaker gift drawings and songs, Heavenly Visions includes close to one hundred color plates-including two newly discovered pieces-providing a comprehensive overview to these stunning works. Characterized by complex, precise graphic quality and elegantly written words linked to delicate imagery, these now treasured folk-art pieces range in size from two-inch squares to sheets several feet long. Unified and powerful, the interplay of words and images combine to creates a fascinating and beautiful genre of art.

Illuminating the images, essays by France Morin, Mary Ann Haagen, John T. Kirk, Ann Kirschner, and Sally M. Promey examine this body of art from a variety of perspectives, considering women's roles as spiritual mediums and the construction of gender within Shaker spirituality. This long-awaited volume serves to connect Shaker artistic and spiritual life and reveals their continuing relevance today. France Morin is curator of the exhibition Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gift Drawings and Gift Songs at The Drawing Center in New York City.

Customer Reviews:

Easy to understand, many never-before-seen pictures.......2003-11-27

"Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gift Drawings and Gift Songs" is a most impressive explanation and study of Shaker spirituality and the role of prophecy and gender within it.

Frances Moran manages in a simple and easily understood manner to see Shaker visions as a source of spiritual leadership and power for younger women within a community that was being increasingly hierarchical and bound up by the standards of "the world" (as Shakers referred to it). Frances explains easliy that gift drawings and gift songs gave Shaker women direct contact with the Spirit, which was characteristic of the earliest Believers but was lost during the early nineteenth century when Shakerism expanded. It is also show that the type of mediumship found in Shakerism is actually seen even today in native religions of the world.

The majority of "Heavenly Visions: Shaker Gift Drawings and Gift Songs", however, consists of some most beautiful pictures that show Shaker art of the period known as "Mother Ann's Work". The pictures are often much more beautiful and much more clearly laid out than those in less detailed studies of Shakerism and the book is made into an important purchase.

The actual pictures show there to be a great deal of structure and reason behind the gifts given to Shaker mediums during the 1840s and 1850s, as well as illustrating Shakerism's unique spiritual character. We find that there were many pictures of key Shaker leaders from the early period, and also a strong emphasis on the basic necessities of the natural world in the content of Shaker gift drawings. The written words on these drawings are beautifully written but I have not been able to read them.

A most important resource for the understanding of Shakerism.

Selling Shaker: The Promotion of Shaker Design in the Twentieth Century (Liverpool University Press - Value-Art-Politics)

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Selling Shaker: The Promotion of Shaker Design in the Twentieth Century (Liverpool University Press - Value-Art-Politics)
Stephen Bowe , and Peter Richmond
Manufacturer: Liverpool University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

The simple yet striking lines of Shaker design grace much of the furniture we see in high-end department stores, and beautiful examples of it adorn the pages of Architectural Digest and House Beautiful. How did this style evolve from its origins in a humble, small religious community to the international design phenomenon it is today? This illustrated study explores the emergence of the Shaker style and how it was vigorously promoted by scholars and artists into the prominence it now enjoys.

The heart of the Shaker style lies in the religious movement founded in the eighteenth century, where Stephen Bowe and Peter Richmond begin their chronicle. From there, the authors chart the evolution of the style into the twentieth century—particularly in the hands of design media, scholars, and art institutions. These Shaker “agents” repositioned Shaker style continuously—from local vernacular to high culture and then popular culture. Drawing on a rich array of sources, including museum catalogs, contemporary design magazines, and scholarly writings, Selling Shaker illustrates in detail how the Shaker style entered the general design consciousness and how the original aesthetic was gradually diluted into a generic style for a mass audience.

A wholly original and fascinating study of American design and consumption, Selling Shaker is a unique resource for collectors, scholars, and anyone interested in the cultural history of a design aesthetic.

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