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THE SHAKERS GET F ANCY By Diane Dolphin

SEWING-RELATED FANCY GOODS OF THE NORTHEAST SHAKERS

Four poplar pincushions. The last one is likely later, as the kid leather used was less refined.

Unless otherwse noted, all photographs are by the author, Diane Dolphin. All items shown are currently or formerly in the collection of the author.

hen people think of craftsman- create small novelty items for sale to these
ship created by members of the tourists. Additionally, as the number of
WShaker religious communities, Shaker Brothers declined along with
what might first come to mind are their Shaker membership, the Sisters became
exquisite furniture, crafted to merge the primary income producers, and fancy
refined form with functionality; or their goods utilized their existing skills of
elegant oval boxes, with their fine, deli- sewing, weaving, and handiwork.
cate fingers. But many Shaker and sewing Many of these tourist items were made
collectors focus on one of the Shakers’ to appeal to a more Victorian aesthetic,
most prolific industries: “fancy goods,” thus earning the Victorian “fancy goods”
which includes many sewing items. The moniker. Several Shaker communities
New York and New England Shaker published catalogs, such as the 1908
communities produced a wide array of 1908 postcard promoting Enfield NH Shakers’ Holiday Goods “Catalog of Fancy Goods,” produced
delightful and functional sewing goods and Shaker Cloaks sale at the Sea Cliff Inn. by the Alfred, Maine community. In
for sale in their village shops and at local addition to sewing-related pieces, various
tourist destinations, including woven poplar boxes and pincushions, communities produced countless other items, among them baskets,
fingered oval sewing carriers, spool stands, and sewing clamps. Because boxes, textile crafts, souvenirs, household items, brushes, dolls dressed
these items were produced in large quantities for sale to the public— in handmade Shaker outfits, and bonnets, to name just a few. The
and because they were so charming and well-crafted—many of these Brothers provided any “heavy work” needed, such as woodworking, and
items survive today, to the delight of collectors. they helped with sales.
The Shakers sold these
The Fancy Goods Industry items in their own village
gift shops, and they also
The Shakers have always produced goods for sale to businesses and went on the road, setting
the public to support their communities, such as cooperware, house- up sales displays at hotels
hold goods, seeds and herbs, and food products. The sale of fancy goods and resorts. The Sabbathday
became a major industry following the Civil War and spanned more Day Lake Shakers, for
than a century. In The Human & The Eternal: Shaker Art in Its Many example, sold much of their
Forms, Brother Arnold Hadd of the Sabbathday Lake Shakers describes fancy goods at the Poland
the evolution of this industry. With industrialization and the rise of the Springs resort and at Maine
middle class in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leisure and seaside towns.
tourism industries expanded. People began to travel to resort areas
throughout the Northeast. The Shakers saw this as an opportunity to

A poplar sewing box with poplar
needle book on top, with an emery
and waxer inside.

Interior of the poplar sewing
box, with strawberry emery
and thread waxer.

Poplarware Sewing Boxes and Accessories

Many of the sewing items produced by the Shakers are poplarware
pieces. Poplarware describes the large variety of small boxes and items
that were created using finely woven poplar wood. The craft was
Vintage photo postcard of Eldress Bertha Lindsay and Sister Lillian Phelps invented by and unique to the Shakers and was a major industry for
making poplar boxes in the 1940s or 1950s. several communities.

36 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles