Shaker: Life, Work, and Art [Paperback]

June Sprigg (Author), David Larkin (Author), Michael Freeman (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 1991

Today, few Shakers are left, but their legacy--the beautifully proportioned buildings, the exquisite baskets and the classically crafted chairs--lives on in their creations--and in Shaker, the first comprehensive book on this remarkable society.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Shakers or Believers, a celibate 19th century utopian community, have deeded their tradition of simplicity to American culture, most notably in the functional design of their daily routine. Today, Shaker boxes and furnishings are prized collectibles. In this handsomely designed and lavishly illustrated (200 color photographs) survey of Shaker communities, the full flowering of founder Ann Lee's dissidence from the Anglican Church may be viewed. Once numbering nearly 6,000 members, today fewer than a dozen brethren and sisters remain in two of the original 19 communities; Canterbury, N.H., and Sabbathday Lake, Maine. The even tenor of willingly regulated lives is evoked in the hour-by-hour inventory of a Shaker's day that opens the book. Then follows a simply written history of communal life centered on excellent, simple work and dance worship. Photographs of Shaker handiworkoval boxes, chairs, angel foodcapture this essence. BOMC featured bonus; Better Homes & Gardens Crafts Club selection; Interior Design Book Club bonus selection.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Larkin is the editor-designer of the best-selling Barn and Shaker and the author of Farm, among many other books published here and abroad. He currently lives in Cherry Plain, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company; 1st edition (October 9, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039559927X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395599273
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,412,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book..., April 5, 2000

By 

barthoj (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaker: Life, Work, and Art (Hardcover)

Shaker: Life, Work and Art is a beautiful book. I first saw acopy several years ago and was disappointed to learn that thehardcover version was out of print. The book has short narrative sections that provide insight into Shaker history, work, and communal and spiritual life. One section captures a "typical" day in the life of the Brethren and Sisters. The enlarged font is easy on the eyes and the top of each narrative page is headed by the famous Shaker wall pegs. The narrative sections are separated by numerous pages of high quality, well-captioned color photographs of Shaker crafts, furniture, and architecture. Lots of beautiful pictures! The Shakers legacy still seems to have a profound impact on our contemporary lives in spite of (or perhaps because of) the simplicity of their work and their unusual communal way of life. Although this book does not present a comprehensive history of the Shakers, it does an admirable job of providing an insight into the lives of these interesting people. This book is deserving of any coffee table and should get a lot of attention in your household. END

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting the spiritual with the temporal, June 29, 2003

By 

David Robinson (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Shaker: Life, Work and Art (Hardcover)

June Sprigg's great introduction to the Shakers has happily been reprinted. It is a most beautiful book.

It's rare that something that looks at first glance like a "coffee table book" that should be admired largely for its pictures but that also contains such a thoughtful and illuminating text.

There is no other book that shows as clearly how the Shakers connected practicality and simplicity with elegance and harmony of design. The photographs are subtle, understated but quite lovely to linger over.

It's easy to dismiss the Shakers as a fringe group, and few up us would embrace their doctrine of celibacy. But June Sprigg documents the appeal of their fundamental values: Do all your work as if it was to last for 1,000 years, but live your life as if you knew that the Judgment Day was coming tomorrow. Her ability to articulate this apparent paradox makes this a spiritually moving book.

Buy it as a gift for anyone interested in design, or with a serious interest in religion. And be sure to order two copies--you'll want one yourself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, May 13, 2011

By 

Miss S (Maine USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Shaker: Life, Work, and Art (Hardcover)

I have had a life long fascination with the Shakers, visiting the museums in Harvard, Massachsetts and Canterbury, New Hampshire since early childhood.
Reading this book gave me the same sense of calm and comfort as touring those lovely buildings and grounds. The photos are really wonderful and the reason why I bought the book, but I am also very pleased with the text. If you are at all interested in the Shakers, or even just photography or simplicity, I reccommend this book.