Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #967558 in Books
• Published on: 1993-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

From Library Journal
Rieman, maker of reproduction Shaker furniture and coauthor of The Shaker Chair (Univ. of Massachusetts Pr., 1992), and Burks, former curator at Canterbury Shaker Village, have created a comprehensive, well-documented guide to Shaker furniture. While most Shaker furniture books illustrate the classic "period of gospel simplicity" from 1820 to 1850, this book illustrates all periods of Shaker furniture, showing that Shaker styles actually reflected the tastes of the time, simple when neoclassical was popular and becoming more ornate as tastes changed to Victorian. Beginning with a broad description of the Shaker religion, lifestyle, and furniture-making, the book progresses to descriptions of each bishopric and its furniture and artisans. Although this book contains more information than most libraries need, it is highly recommended where there is interest.
- Gayle A. Williamson, Fashion Inst. of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
While many people recognize Shaker furniture by its pure lines, preservation of the natural beauty of wood, and meticulous but understated craftsmanship, few are well-versed in its cultural and spiritual context. By combining in-depth commentary on the Shaker tradition with detailed technical information and superb photographs, Rieman and Burks have created the most authoritative volume to date on the identification and authentication of individual pieces of Shaker furniture. The entire range of Shaker furniture is covered. Most studies concentrate on the favored period between 1820 and 1850, called the "gospel simplicity" era, but this comprehensive survey stretches back to the very beginning of the nineteenth century and forward into our own. The authors examine every aspect of Shaker construction, from wood selection to joinery techniques, moldings, and locking mechanisms. Not only have they examined hundreds of pieces, but they have also scrutinized numerous documents, including diaries, journals, records, and oral histories. Their efforts have yielded the names and life dates of more than 250 craftsmen, while Rieman's flawless photographs document 340 objects, many never photographed before for publication. An outstanding resource. Donna Seaman

Customer Reviews

Excellent book, beautiful pictures; but see my warning below
Probably because it is one of the newer books on Shaker furniture, this one seems to be the most accurate on the provenance of the many surviving Shaker items. It appears they have done an excellent job of deciphering where a piece was made regardless which village it was found.

THERE IS WARNING HOWEVER! Don't be fooled by what they mean by "The Complete Book." They use the word complete to mean, that in addition to covering the "Shaker Golden Years" of 1830 to around 1850, they have included items from the 18th to the 20th century.

With approximately 400 beautiful illustrations, they can't possibly cover every important piece of Shakerdom. To my disappointment, they did not discuss the particular 12 to 20 foot benches of two slightly differing styles that I have seen pictured in the meeting room at Sabathday Lake. Nor did they show the small wall clock at Sabathday Lake that I wanted to know about.

The authors certainly accomplished their goals of descibing the various, differing forms used by the different locatations over the approximate 150 years covered.

For me the final test is, would I buy it again -- Abosolutely.