Woodworker's Journal 1985-9-1, страница 32

Furniture Periods and Styles .(Cont'd)

Many of the Classic Shaker forms appear to have originated from the settlement at New Lebanon. Retrospectively, given this fact and the total number of Shakers, it is not unlikely that the "Shaker Style" was in reality the genius of several particularly gifted cabinetmakers whose style was spread and copied among the other communities. Because Shaker artisans had some freedom of expression, the great body of work produced in the various communities is characterized by minor deviations in style and design. The clear superiority of the New Lebanon pieces, however, coupled with the swift decline of the pure Shaker form after 1850, reinforce the conclusion that several individuals were likely the guiding light in Shaker furniture design.

The relatively small number of Shakers and the prodigious body of work they left behind would indicate that they were an extraordinarily industrious people — and indeed they were. Shakers were astute businessmen and they quickly learned that they could benefit and prosper through trade and commerce with the "outside world." They originated the idea of marketing seeds, developed and sold the first "flat" brooms, and popularized the oval boxes that are so sought after today. Most importantly though, they developed a large and prosperous furniture making enterprise. Their sensible, well executed designs were very popular and they realized great financial benefit from the endeavor. It enabled them to expand existing communities, establish new communities, and proselytize in virgin territory. Still, with celibacy at the core of their belief, it was perhaps inevitable that the Shakers eventually declined and finally all but disappeared, often leaving their communities empty and abandoned. Today only a few very eld-ery Shaker women are still alive, in the Sabbathday, Maine community.

Fortunately, the importance of the Shaker contribution to art, science and history has been recognized, and nearly all the original Shaker communities are today either restored or represented in museum form. Original Shaker pieces are among the highest priced items in the antiques market, and no major museum of Americana would be complete without its Shaker collection. With the limited body of Shaker material, it is no surprise that extraordinarily sophisticated fakes have become a major problem in the field.

What furniture did the Shakers build? Everything, it would seem, from the mundane to the sublime and and even the ridiculous. In this latter vein, items such as the revolving rocking chair, and the adult-size cradle, which was used to rock elderly Shakers, once immobility and senility had set in. are especially noteworthy.

As with any period, there are many different examples of Shaker work, some very fine, some mediocre, and others ill conceived, crude and poorly constructed. It is an accepted fact that the poorer examples of a given period will to some extent be winnowed out.

People tend not to save them, and they often simply break or fall apart, and are discarded. Of the substantial amount of Shaker work still in existence, while there are a great many individual styles and interpretations represented, most of the pieces are of a relatively high standard. We should remember however that all Shaker work was not great, nor were all Shaker cabinetmakers master craftsmen.

Shakers used nearly all the native woods, of which there was a great abundance at that time. Oak, walnut, ash, butternut, chestnut, birch and hickory are all evident in their work. Indeed, one of the few types of decoration the Shakers permitted was the inherent natural beauty in unusual grain patterns, such as curly, striped (tiger) or birdseye maple. Shakers never used veneers or inlays, which were considered decietful because they concealed what was inside or underneath.

More than any other woods the Shakers preferred cherry, hard maple, and white pine. Pine was popular during the early years largely because of the relative ease with which it could be worked. Furthermore, the great pines of the virsin forests vielded boards

several feet across, which were ideal for table tops, blanket chests, and other large, wide surfaces. Later, as better machinery and woodworking tools were developed, the Shakers turned to cherry, the figured maples and other hardwoods.

Although they built all types of furnishings, certain items have come to be identified as distinctly Shaker. Among the most famous of these are the "slat-back" chairs, the "slat-back" rocking chair, the revolving pedestal (used as sewing chairs and piano stools), the meeting house bench, and the settee. Trestle tables, small drop-leaf sewing tables and especially tripod pedestal tables were other pieces they excelled at making. Various desks, chests, cupboards and rope beds were also built by the Shakers, although more for their own use than for sale.

More than anything else, Shaker work is distinguished by fine joinery. The tongue-and-groove,rabbet, spline, and dowel method of edge joining boards were all used. The pegged through tenon, the wedged tenon, and the keyed tenon were common mortise and tenon joints. The fact that the Shakers developed their own animal glues, and invented tongue-and-groove and mortising machines, contributed significantly to the overall excellence of their work.

Perhaps most striking of all was the Shakers extensive use of box joint and especially the dovetail joint. Their best pieces were designed so the joinery was an integral part of the visual feast the piece presented.

For a finish, the Shakers usually preferred paint, stain, shellac or varnish. Early on, paint was commonly used. However, as the Classic style developed, they turned to varnish or light stains, which allowed the beauty of grain to be highlighted. The subdued gloss that many of the finest pieces display was achieved by rubbing the varnish with pumice stone to soften the gloss. It is the superior finish and fine joinery, together with the excellent craftsmanship and perfection of design that best characterize Classic Shaker work.

The history of the Shakers makes fascinating reading and their curious beliefs are a puzzle to our 20th Century minds. Still it cannot be denied that the products of their labors stand today as a monument to hard work, discipline, and a simpler way of life. W^j

The Shaker projects shown were featured in The Woodworker's Journal, and are available in back issues.