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late 1890s, and his carrier industry soared within 10 years to more than screwed down to the ege of the sewer’s
1,000 a year. The boxes were made of applewood, cherry, maple, and table by tightening a wooden key or
quartersawn oak. The sewing carriers were unlidded, showing off their by rotating a round wooden disk on
pretty outfitted interiors. Many boxes are marked with the Sabbathday the clamp’s threaded shaft.
Lake trademark, which includes their community name and the
monogram, “SC,” for “Shaker Community.” The Alfred community in Sewing Accessories
Maine also produced their own sewing carriers, which were very
similar; however, many of them featured fingers that pointed to the left, Many of the sewing accessories
whereas most Shaker carriers have fingers pointing to the right. that fitted the sewing boxes, carriers,
and stands were also sold separately.
Sewing carrier with starburst Round melon or tomato-shaped
intarsia lid and blue lining circa pincushions of satin and velvet came
1850, Mount Lebanon, NY. in different sizes and colors.
photo: Shakermuseum.us Decorative threadwork segmented the
pincushions into sections, and the
Spool Stand, Canterbury, NH,
made of birch with five brass thread was woven or knotted around
spindles, a blue velvet pincushion the center, often looking like a tiny
with a lavender strawberry emery, spider web. Similar pincushions
and a molded block of wax. produced in the mid-1900s were
Photo: shakermuseum.us made from cotton prints with colorful
patterns. Strawberry-shaped emeries,
usually made of satin with velvet caps and filled with sand-like emery
powder, were used to sharpen needles. Besides the strawberries, emeries
Sister Lillian Barlow and Elder William Perkins in Mount Lebanon, were also created using walnut shells, seashells, and as little cloth daisies.
New York produced their own unique sewing carriers from the 1920s Little thread waxer “wax balls” were produced in several shapes, including
to 1940s. They were made of gumwood, stained a medium to dark tarts, balls, and cylinders. Sewers would run their thread across the
brown, and varnished, leaving the tiny copper tacks shiny. They had waxer to make it glide more easily through the cloth.
lids and were lined in patterned brocade silk; some had sewing The Shaker Sisters produced many other sewing-related items
accessories, while others did not. Just a few of them are marked with a besides those mentioned here. Their vast number and array of types and
Mount Lebanon label. styles are a delight to today’s collectors. Even among similar items, it
seems no two of these hand-made pieces are exactly alike, making every
Spool Stands and new discovery a useful and delightful addition to their collection.

Sewing Clamps Want to learn more? You can start by visiting the various Shaker
village and museum websites, including Sabbathday Lake Shaker
Other appealing and popular items Village in Maine, the remaining active Shaker community, to gain a
were “spool stands,” also known as sewing deeper understanding of the Shakers’ religious and communal life and
stands or spool holders. The round wooden work, as well as learn about their industries. Several sites have online
base of these stands had metal pins that collections of Shaker-made items you can browse or search. You can
could hold different spools of thread, also plan a visit in person to enjoy tours and exhibits (check their
keeping them all at the sewer’s easy websites for public hours, any current restrictions, and current exhibits
disposal. In the center of the base, a and programs). In addition, the books below, which provided
finely turned wooden pedestal ends in a information for this article, describe the life, religion, and work of the
round wooden disk that holds a large Shakers and illustrate many of the products the Shakers made and sold to
round tomato-shaped pincushion. Sewing the public.
accessories were often attached to the Maple Spool Stand with
pincushion with silk ribbons. However, velvet-covered pincushion
and six spool holders.
the silk often grows fragile with age and Photo: shakermuseum.us About the Author:
breaks, so it’s a challenge today to find Diane Dolphin is the owner of D. Dolphin Antiques. She has been
spool stands with the original accessories still attached. learning about and collecting Shaker ephemera and Shaker-made items for
Besides the spool stands, some communities, including Hancock,
Massachusetts, and Canterbury, New Hampshire, produced sewing the past twenty years, after first becoming fascinated with their religion,
philosophies, and community life while visiting several Shaker villages and
clamps to hold down the cloth being worked on and have a pincushion reading their publications. Diane is also a retired college faculty member
handy. They were made of turned wood (usually maple), and had who taught writing, media, and organizational communications.
round pincushions on top that were plainer than the tomato-shaped
ones on the spool stands. Depending on the style, clamps could be
Sources:
From Shaker Lands and Shaker Hands, by M. Stephen Miller. Published in 2010
by University Press of New England.

Handled with Care: The Function of Form in Shaker Craft, by Christian
Goodwillie and M. Stephen Miller. Published in 2006 by Hancock Shaker Village.

The Human & The Eternal: Shaker Art in Its Many Forms, published by the
Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum.

Shaker Baskets & Poplarware: A Field Guide, Vol. III by Gerrie Kennedy, Galen
Beale, and Jim Johnson. Published by Berkshire House Publishers, 1992.

Ingenious & Useful: Shaker Sisters' Communal Industries, 1860-1960, by
Brother Theodore E. Johnson. Published by the United Society of Shakers,
Sabbathday Lake, 1986.

The Shakers: From Mount Lebanon to the World, Michael K. Komanecky,
Editor. Contributions by Leonard L. Brooks, Christopher Brownawell, Michael S.
Three Shaker spool stands. One has its original needlebook, waxer, and emery, Graham, Jerry V. Grant, Brother Arnold Hadd, Michael K. Komanecky, Stephen J.
although the waxer and emery are no longer attached. Stein, David Stocks, and Angela Waldron.

38 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles