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Publisher’s Corner

The Shakers Come to America journalofantiques.com

hen our children were growing up we lived in proselytize their religious beliefs and
western Massachusetts and within an easy drive the salvation it offered, including Publisher
Wto two Shaker Village sites: Hancock Shaker the Shakers and Ann Lee. In fact, it Maxine Carter-Lome
Village in Pittsfield, MA, and The Mount Lebanon can be said that The Dark Day Maxine Carter-Lome journalofantiques@gmail.com
Shaker Village in New Lebanon, New York. Both were arguably set into motion the actions Business Manager
among the earliest Shaker communities in America and and events that transformed the Shakers in America from Jeffrey Lome
served as models for future factions as this extreme a small group of Believers into what became a society that jeffrey@journalofantiques.com
religious sect spread from Maine to Kentucky during the Managing Editor
mid-nineteenth century. included more than 6,000 members spread across 18 Judy Gonyeau
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second communal villages by the mid-1800s. Ann Lee’s public editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
Appearing, commonly known as the Shakers, was a testimony on The Dark Day at a “New Light” revival
Protestant sect founded in England in 1749 with roots held in New Lebanon, NY, attracted a number of Art Director
in two extreme 17th century religions: the French converts who went on to become life-long Shakers. Lynn Cotterman
Camisards, a Protestant denomination originating in A simpler, self-sustaining way of life, celibacy, ads@journalofantiques.com
southern France during the 17th century, and the communal living, and regular purging of sin offered Production
Quakers, or Society of Friends, founded in England in an appealing alternative lifestyle for those looking for Lynn Cotterman
1652 by George Fox. spiritual grounding and redemption in the first half
Heavily persecuted for their beliefs by King Louis of the 19th century; however, it did not take long for Judy Gonyeau
XIV, the Camisards fled to England between 1702 and external and internal societal changes and the Industrial Jill Montague-Kaitbenski
1706, where their preachers heavily influenced a group of Revolution to challenge the feasibility and long-term
Quakers in Manchester, England. Over the next several viability of the Shaker way of life. The second half 508-347-1960
decades, Quakerism morphed and evolved, influenced by of the 19th century saw a gradual decline in members Toll free:
disparate ideologies. One such sect was the Camisard- and a thinning of Shaker communities across the 888-698-0734
influenced “Shaking Quakers” out of Manchester, country. By 1920, there were only 12 Shaker
known for the violent trembling and quaking that communities remaining in the United States. As of Fax: 508-347-0911
defined their process of worship in an effort to expel sin 2020, only Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in Maine Mailing:
P. O. Box 950
from their bodies. Among the members of this Shaking remains an active Shaker community. Sturbridge, MA 01566
Quakers sect, led by Jane and James Wardley, was a The Shakers had a century-long history as a religious
22-year-old Ann Lee. movement in America but leave a more lasting legacy as info@journalofantiques.com
Ann Lee, commonly known as Mother Ann Lee, was an aesthetic movement, a design manifestation of the
born in 1736 in Manchester, the daughter of a religion’s commitment to leading simple lives, which UPS and FedEx
blacksmith who married a blacksmith. Lee joined the included their furnishings and the objects that provided Shipping Address:
Wardley’s Shaker sect in 1758 and quickly rose to useful purpose in their homes. Although conceived as a 46 Hall Road
prominence by urging other believers to preach more religious order, it turns out that the Shakers were also Sturbridge, MA 01566

publicly concerning the imminent second coming. In her entrepreneurs. Recognizing an opportunity to sell the Journal of
preaching, she attacked sin boldly and unconventionally, goods they made for internal use to the outside world to Antiques and Collectibles
claiming she had received in a vision from God the generate income for their communities, the Shakers is published monthly in digital
message that celibacy and confession of sin was the only began cottage industries to sell their wares, not only to and bi-monthly in print by
true road to salvation and the only way in which the village visitors but to tourists looking to pick up souvenirs Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
Kingdom of God could be established on earth. Lee’s of their travels. 46 Hall Road
claims of visions and messages from God, miraculous Shaker furniture, as well as baskets, boxes, brooms, Sturbridge MA 01566.
escapes from death, and speaking in tongues led to her and other utilitarian home goods—“crafted by human Periodicals postage paid at
frequent imprisonment for breaking the Sabbath by hands intended for the divine”—are easily recognized for Sturbridge MA.
dancing and shouting (“shaking”), and for blasphemy. their simple functionality, clean lines, craftsmanship, and
Persecuted for her faith, Ann Lee, her husband, and a use of indigenous materials. These items, once displayed
select group of members from the Wardley sect set sail for in Shaker living history museums and sold in their gift POSTMASTER:
America to spread the word here, arriving in New York shops, are now finding their way to antique and primitive Send address changes to
City on August 6, 1774. Five years later, this small band goods shows, antique shops, and auctions with a renewed The Journal of Antiques
of Shakers leased land in Schenectady, NY in the design interest in clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. and Collectibles
township of Watervliet, near Albany, and established In this issue, we interview Willis Henry, who is ISSN: (1539-5618)
their vision for a Shaker community in America. Now known for his auction house’s annual Shaker auctions P.O. Box 950
it was time for Ann Lee to spread the word and recruit and knowledge of the market on page 22. A trip to the Sturbridge, MA 01566
new members! Enfield Connecticut Shaker property and its significance
Lee’s opportunity came a year later in the days follow- in the founding of Shakerism starts on page 32. We also The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
reserves the right to reject any advertising that
ing May 19, 1780, known in history as “The Dark Day,” explore five Shaker Village living history museums to find does not comply with our standards. The
when the sun disappeared, and it was so dark that “can- out what everyday life was like, and learn more about the Journal will not be liable for any errors or
omissions but will print a correction in the
dles had to be lit to see indoors at noon.” Some of those history behind the making of some of your favorite and following issue if notification of such error is
who observed the phenomenon believed it indicated that most iconic Shaker objects. sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
the end of times, or Judgment Day, had come. Clergy writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
of unsolicited material.
and religious leaders of all sects used this unexplained
Copyright 2022
atmospheric phenomenon and the fear it evoked to Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher All rights reserved

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