Re: Shaker design ancestors
Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi
>Pam,
In my previous post I cited the Federal furniture as a base of Shaker furniture design. In your response, you correctly questioned other influences on their furniture products. I assumed you were somewhat familiar with the Shaker religious believes, how these believes affected their way of life and the resultant affects on their furniture. The subject is too complex to cover in depth here, but, if you are interested in it, I would recommend any of the books about Shaker furniture written by Edward Demings Andrews and Faith Andrews.
The Shaker faith was based on the teachings of the sect�s founder, Mother Ann Lee, writings of her disciple, James Whittaker, and later by the codified Shaker covenant, the Millennial Laws. They believed the way to salvation was through order and perfection. Whittaker wrote that �all work done or things made�ought to be faithfully and well done but plain and without superfluity. We have a right to improve the inventions of man, so far as is useful and necessary, but not to vain glory, or anything superfluous.�
The Millennial Laws went farther describing what things were permissible and what was not. �Beading, mouldings, and cornices, which were merely for fancy may not be made by Believers.� Articles which were considered improper included superfluously finished or flowery painted clocks, bureaus, looking glasses, any brass hardware on furniture or anything that was for show or fancy.
This religious pursuit of perfection was manifested in all the work that Shakers did whether it be farming, cooking, architecture, weaving, etc. etc. In cabinetmaking, this pursuit manifested itself as superb craftsmanship and the simplification of form derived through the lack of ornamentation.
I think that the lack of curves in their furniture was due to their desire for order and that the fact that curves in many of the earlier furniture styles does not add to the functionality of the piece. Although there are few curved surfaces in shaker furniture, there are subtle features that incorporate curves such as the sides of the two Shaker style stools in another thread or the beads on the bottom of drawers. The icon of Shaker craftsmanship, the oval box, is an ellipse. I think this demonstrates that curves were used when it was appropriate in furthering the functionality of an object. Besides, as a civil engineer, I think that straight lines and 90 degree angles are a thing of beauty in themselves. 8^) (Bombe chests are not a Heppelwhite, Sheraton or Federal form but rather from the earlier Chippendale period.)
Sorry this went on so long. I hope it answered some of your questions, but again, if you are interested in this subject, there is much written about it that is available in your library that will go into greater depth and do a much better job of explaining the Shaker way of life and its influence in the development of their furniture.
Jim