The Shaker movement began in England around 1770 when a 22 year old visionary called
Ann Lee organised a religious group which seceded from Quakerism.
The group was known for the mighty shakes introduced into their spiritual dances and led them
to be known as the shaking quakers. This nickname later being shortened to "Shakers".
Ann Lee, with seven followers, travelled to America in 1774, they preached separation from the
world - community ownership of goods - confession of sin - celibacy and separation of the sexes.
They lived in a communal monastic order, sharing all that they possessed. They truly loved their
neighbours as themselves.
In 1774 the group bought a small tract of land in Waterliviet near Albany, New York and three years
later they built their first communal home. Knows as the "Shakers" or "The United Society of believers
in the first and second appearance of Christ" they were the nineteenth centuries' largest and best
known communal utopian society.
By 1840 approximately 6000 bretheren and sisters lived and worked in nineteen communities from
Maine to Kentucky. The Shakers were famous for their unusual way of life, for the dance worship that
gave them their name and for the excellence and simplicity of their creative work. They were always thorough
and exact in all the things they undertook and were always seeking better ways to perform a task.
They took the lead in agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry, their products were sold far and wide.
The Shaker label was a mark of integrity and excellence. Poor workmanship and dishonest dealing was
not tolerated.
One of the most tangible expressions exists in their workmanship in wood and one of the unique
forms was the "oval box" made from hardwood veneer and solid quarter inch wood - they stand today
as a unique example of Shaker Craftsmanship.
