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collecting, and we meet new enthusiastic collectors June. Visit www.willishenryauctions.com for
every year. They come from all over the country pictures and prices.
and the world. This is a very vibrant, exceptional
market. There are so many artists and architects Does the market make the distinction
and people in the design field who collect between items made by Shakers for
Shaker because of its design aesthetic. Shaker
designs were copied and used as inspiration trade sale and those items made for
by everybody, from Stickley to Harvey Ellis personal use?
to George Nakashima, to Danish and
Mid-Century Modern designers, and others who Yes. Chairs made by the Shakers for their
created streamlined forms with clean lines and own use were lightly used yet were made to last.
lack of embellishment. What they made for sale is also highly desired
as they were anxious to put the best quality
Who is buying today versus who was out there.
In the beginning, they did not put their decal
buying in your earlier years? on chairs made for sale; however, their
popularity soon attracted other makers to create
Many of the same buyers who bought Shaker Single board tiger maple rectangular top, Shaker-style items. They started adding the
from us at our first auction in 1982 are still 18 1/4 x 25 1/4 inches, single drawer below with Shaker decal to distinguish their chairs for sale
three dovetails, classic cherry Canterbury dimpled
buying from us today in 2022. A gentleman who drawer pull, elegant turned and tapered legs, from copies made by other companies. There are
purchased a beautiful cupboard from that first with a medial circular scribe line, Canterbury, NH, so many Shaker chairs out there today because
auction bought a rocking chair from us at this c. 1840-1850. Sold for $6,500, June 2022 they were beautifully designed, a lot of people
year’s auction. Many museums have been building Willis Henry Shaker Auction wanted them, and they were made to last.
great collections for years, one being the Art Shakers made things
Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA, in our own backyard. There were that were exquisite! They
also many astute collectors back in the 1920s and 30s, including the gave a lot of thought to
Andrewses (their books are a basis for serious Shaker collectors). each other’s needs and
Charles Sheeler (1883-1965), known for his paintings, commercial they designed their items
photography, and Shaker collection, and also the Rockefellers who to fit the specific needs
helped build the Metropolitan Museum collection, among others, have of the user. They signed
purchased beautiful pieces and rare examples over the years. Folks are what they made because
still discovering the Shakers today. The market is always moving for- they gave them to another
ward, just at different intervals. There are still great pieces out there, Brother or Sister – it was a
and they can be very affordable! gift so that was what the
signature was usually all
What advice do you about. The signature was
have for new collectors? a part of the gift and a
token of Brotherly and
Get the right knowledge. Sisterly love.
Many books have been As long as we’ve been
written on the Shakers and I involved with the Shakers
recommend Tim Rieman’s we have been humbled
and June Sprigg’s books. Visit and touched by their
the Shaker villages such as A handled carrier box crafted from spiritual nature. Their
Hancock, MA, Sabbathday butternut with a hickory handle “Hands to Work” motto
Lake, ME, Enfield and with possible use as a sewing notions holder. gave America a design
Canterbury, NH, and Shown in a preview feature that became the
Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in to a May 2011 Willis Henry Auction. iconic “Form Following
Function.”
Kentucky, as well as museums __________________________________________________

with Shaker collections. For more information on Willis Henry Auctions and upcoming
Immerse yourself in who they Shaker auctions, visit www.willishenryauctions.com, located in
are and how they lived. Duxbury, MA.
Ease in by buying what you
like. It’s not just about the
money but the people who
made these items. They would
make a chair so “that an angel
would come down and sit on
it.” We sold a chair this year
that I consider the best rocking
chair I ever sold—it was
purchased by a collector—for
$50,000 – which I thought
Pine, refinished with traces of the original was a good buy. But you don’t
red stain, cornice molded top over two have to have $50,000 to buy a
raised panel doors with separate cupboards, very fine Shaker-made chair.
left hand with cut out recessed shelf, Exceptional examples can be
over two small drawers, over five graduated found for $500, even for a few
and dovetailed drawers, Hancock Bishopric, hundred dollars. There were
probably Enfield, CT, c. 1840. A fine cutlery box out of New Hampshire made of figured birch
Sold for $38,000, June 2022 many good buys to be had at with a pine bottom. Joinery is made from large dovetails.
Willis Henry Shaker Auction our Shaker Auction this past Shown in a preview to a May 2011 Willis Henry Auction.

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