History of the Shakers

Shaker Oval Boxes by Barry Horton

A Little About the Shakers

The origins of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing more commonly known as the Shakers, can be traced back to 17^th century France and the Camisards. These early French Calvinists flourished in southern France and took their name from the Provence word “Camiso” for shirt. Later, having lost their battle with the army of Louis XIV in 1706, some of the survivors were forced to flee to England. These exiles continued to preach their beliefs, greatly influencing some groups of Quakers, or Society of Friends; founded by George Fox in 1652. One such group, in Manchester England led by Jane and James Wardly, broke away from the Quakers to form their own group known both as the Wardley Society and Shaking Quakers. So named for their ecstatic form of worship, involving a marching dance where they would tremble and shake, with some falling into a trance.

Ann Lee joined the society in 1758, becoming one of its most vocal proponents and was arrested on a number of occasions for disturbing the peace. She had visions during one such incarceration revealing how, through purity, mankind could find redemption. She made known these revelations to the society; then in 1770, probably as a direct result, was elected leader of the society, becoming known as "Mother Ann".

Four years later and as a result of another vision, she left England for America, accompanied by seven followers. Their idea was to establish a communal utopian society, a popular idea at the time. Extolling the virtues of purity, pacifism, tolerance and equality of the sexes, they gained many enthusiastic followers, reaching a peak of membership in the early 19^th century of around 4000. Unfortunately, Mother Ann Lee died in 1784, without seeing the culmination of her life’s work. Decline set in following the American Civil War and by 1900 there were only 1000 followers.

Today a number of former communities have been turned into museums. The last remaining community continues with a small number of followers at Sabbathday Lake Maine.

The lives of the Shakers' were strictly ordered with a law covering every aspect of daily life. These were known as the millennial laws. They were, however, revised from time to time, reflecting the Shakers flexibility to a changing world. This was a necessity. Because of the Shaker adherence to celibacy, the survival of the movement depended on recruits from outside.

Luckily for us their striving for perfection on earth has left us with a lasting testament to their Industry, in the shape of their furniture. By striping away unnecessary ornament and condemning beauty for beauty’s sake, the Shakers contrived to produce some of the most beautiful furniture made. "All beauty that has no foundation in use soon grows distasteful and needs continuous replacement with something new." By concentrating on form and function they were probably 150 years ahead of their time; the precursors to the modern movement.

If this brief summary has whetted your appetite to read more, the following books can be recommended:

Shaker: Life, Work and Art
June and David Larkin – Cassell 1987
(Click on the book cover to see more detail and to purchase).

The Book of Shaker Furniture
John Kassay – University of Massachusetts Press 1980
(Click on the book cover to see more detail and to purchase).

Shaker Furniture: The Craftsmanship of an American Communal Sect
Edward D. Andrews and Faith Andrews - Dover Publications 1964
(Click on the book cover to see more detail and to purchase).