Essential Book of Shaker

In the late 1700s the Shakers established the first and only truly Utopian communities in America. Dedicated to God and each other, they worked together to create societies separate from the concerns and conflicts of the everyday world. Eighteen Shaker communities were established, from Maine to Kentucky. They built their own homes, churches, and furnishings, considering first what was useful and doing away with any unnecessary details: homes were designed so that they required minimum effort to keep clean; furniture was designed to be easily stored; fences designed so that there was no need for repair or replacement. A close look at Shaker beds and windows, cupboards and boxes, tables and chimneys allows a full appreciation of not only a design but a lifestyle. A testament to their craftsmanship and care, Shaker buildings and furnishings survive today.