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THE SHAKER

EXPERIENCE

from Willis and Karel Henry’s Point of View

Interview by Maxine Carter-Lome publisher

illis Henry Auctions, Inc., a Massachusetts- The contents of the estate were being sold and included
based auction company of antiques and fine an extensive collection of Shaker furniture and objects.
Wart, has been conducting sales in a wide We couldn’t take our eyes off the Shaker. When we
variety of categories for over fifty years, including inquired whether these items could be purchased, we
Shaker-made furniture, accessories, tools, manuscripts, were told they were already going to another auction
and art, for which they have garnered international gallery. Eventually, we obtained the catalog and
attention and generated many world record auction studied it extensively. The auction was not very well
prices. They have also led a movement that has elevated cataloged and thus did not meet expectations. Many
buyer and collector interest in all things Shaker with small pieces were heavily lotted and many case pieces
the items and education they bring to market. For this were overestimated, causing a lot of the auction to not
issue, Publisher Maxine Carter-Lome spoke with meet reserves. After seeing this we considered having
Willis and Karel Henry about their interest in Shaker our own Shaker auction.
furniture and accessories, and how they have seen In 1981, we got a call about a collection of Shaker
market interest and values change over time. items for sale from an estate in New Hampshire which
ultimately went to our good friend and Shaker dealer,
Willis Henry conducting an auction
How and when did you become interested in at Hancock Shaker Village Doug Hamel. We went up to see it and asked if we
could buy the entire collection, which included a spit
Shaker furniture and accessories? box nicer than the one that had recently sold at the estate auction for
$2,500. Based on the previous auction and the price realized for the spit
In the early 1970s, a college friend of ours Mike Chikiris, who was box, our local bank loaned us the funds to purchase the collection from
a photographer, joined my wife Karel and me on a trip to Sabbathday Doug. They gave us all the money we needed with the spit box being
Lake in Maine on our way to look at some antique quilts and coverlets the primary source (of course, Karel’s father co-signed the loan).
we wanted to purchase for our small For this reason, we always try to include a spit box in each of our
antique shop in Marshfield, MA. We Shaker auctions.
stopped at a Shaker community to take
pictures of Karel in a flowing white dress
among the white buildings and barns
and the Sabbathday Lake Meeting
House in the background. It was a
beautiful day. Two Shaker sisters came
out to meet us and welcomed us into
their dwelling for dinner. It was
a memorable evening and our first
connection to the Shakers. When we
returned home, we realized we
had a few Shaker items in our
shop but hadn’t known it. This
was the beginning of our lifelong
love and appreciation for the
Shakers and the items they produced.
Around 1979, we went on a
house call in Albany, NY to buy a Circa 1840 Shaker Spit Box featuring three fingers and original chrome-
coverlet collection from an estate. yellow finish. Sold at Willis Henry Auctions this year for $6,250, more than
double its estimate. Shakers gave up smoking early in the 19th century.

Cherry wood, original dark red
walnut-stained finish, two-slat back How have you seen the auction market for Shaker
with beveled top edge, caned seat, double
stretchers front, back and sides, probably items change over this period of time?
used in weaving, good overall condition,
Enfield, NH, c. 1840, 22” seat h, What hasn’t changed? The Internet came into being, and
41” overall h. Sold for $16,000, COVID!! We used to hold our auctions under tents … lots of things
June 2022 Willis Henry Shaker Auction have changed, but the serious collectors are still out there and still
22 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles