Collectors and dealers gathered eagerly for the Willis Henry Auctions Shaker sale on the grounds of the Fruitlands Museum on October 3, and they gave careful scrutiny to each of the 307 lots. It has been two years since the auction house’s last Shaker sale, and anticipation levels were high. Most major collectors and dealers were present despite the driving rain that impinged on visitors’ abilities to enjoy the gorgeous countryside. Beneath the tent all was cozy, however, and auction staffers strewed straw on the ground throughout the event to stem flooding. Florida auctioneer and dealer David Glynn was on hand to help run the auction. He maintained a lively pace.
The material was drawn from California and Arizona collections that had been formed in New England and upstate New York in the 1950s when the owners bought directly from the Shakers.
The runaway favorite of the day was a small New Lebanon cherry ministry trestle table in the original red finish that sold for $117,000. The circa 1830‱840 table is one of two of this size, 65 by 35 inches, known to be in private collections. Its size suggests that it was used for dining by elders or eldresses; as he hammered it down, Will Henry said it may have been used by Elder Frederick Evans. This example came directly from the collection of the late Charles and Helen Upton of Troy, N.Y., who bought it in 1966 from a Mrs Nichman of Schenectady, N.Y., who in turn had acquired it from the Shaker community at Hancock, Mass. It went to a dealer bidding for a collector.
Also rare was the fine New Lebanon figured cherry worktable with cherry and pine secondary woods that had been used in that community by Eldress Rosetta Stephens of the North family, which sold for $58,500. The circa 1840 table was beautifully proportioned with three drawers, turned wood pulls and the original finish. Speaking after the sale, Henry described the table as “a pure, elegant Shaker piece.”
Used by Eldress Stephens, a New Lebanon sister’s sewing desk of cherry, walnut, butternut and poplar with two rows of three drawers above the work surface and two larger graduated ones below brought $10,530 from an absentee bidder. A photograph of the eldress with the desk in her room accompanied the lot. The desk came from the same upstate New York collection, as did a Mount Lebanon maple side chair, circa 1830.
A small, 36-by-24-by-20-inch, Canterbury sister’s pine sewing desk with three small drawers on the top and three larger drawers beneath the work surface realized $17,550.
A classic worktable of birch and pine, with the original cherry red stained varnish on the base had slightly swelled turned legs and was marked in chalk inside the single drawer “Shaker&” It opened at $2,000 and sold for $10,530.
A pine double cabinet with two sets of removable slatted shelves above two banks of seven graduated dovetailed drawers was signed “Made by Amos Stewart February 1839” in two places and sold for $58,700. The cabinet had been purchased from Sister Sadie Neale of Mount Lebanon in the 1940s. The successful bidder was John Keith Russell.
From New Lebanon, a seed shop desk of butternut, pine and cherry by Orren Haskins was as remarkable for its form as for its inscription, “Orren Haskins Maker Dec 18 1838 John Allen; Made by Orren Haskins December 18th 1838 for John Allen & used at the seed shop upwards of two years. It was then put upon legs by John Allen & taken into the house on the first Monday in January 1841.” It realized $43,875 and went to a collector. The table was included in the 1997 Haskins exhibit, “Making His Mark: The Work of Shaker Craftsman Orren Haskins.”
Also from Mount Lebanon, a pine and poplar blanket chest retained the original bittersweet painted finish, carved bone escutcheons and original forged strap hinges and was made with two graduated drawers. Of elegant form, it brought $39,780 from Cape Cod dealer Bob Wilkins, who said after the sale that he bought it “because I loved it.”
Purchased from the Shakers in the 1950s by an upstate New York collector, a cherry and pine writing slant lid desk realized $35,100. The piece, which Henry described as “the essence of fine cabinet work,” was probably from Canterbury, had classic turned and swelled legs and a dovetailed drawer. It went to Michigan collectors.
A Mount Lebanon writing desk box in butternut and pine with tongue and groove breadboard ends on the lid and a small pull-out drawer sold for $3,978.
Of special interest was the manuscript of anthems and spirit messages that was labeled “Bound by Henry DeWitt, New Lebanon” and that bore the signature of Louise Young. It included messages from 1838 to 1840, most of which are from the earliest Shakers, including Mother Ann. It realized $22,230.
Among the selection of carriers across the block, the standout was the 14¾-inch maple and pine example with three fingers and retaining the soft yellow finish. It had sold previously at a 1990 Willis Henry auction; this time out it went to a phone bidder for $8,775.
The star of the boxes was a maple and pine oval example in raspberry red paint with three fingers that sold for $4,973. Another example was the large, 13¼-inch, maple and pine example with original salmon paint and five fingers that brought $4,680 on the phone. A maple and pine oval box that measured 21/8 by 53/8 inches had four fingers and small copper tacks and sold for $4,388. A small (1½ by 35/8 inches) pine and maple box in the original Meetinghouse blue paint from between 1820 and 1830 sold for $3,978. The box came from the Albright collection of Lancaster, Mass., that was formed at the turn of the last century.
A maple and pine spit box in chrome yellow with three fingers and the number “3” stenciled on the side brought $3,627. It may have been made by Daniel Crossman for the Church family of New Lebanon.
From the community at Sabbathday Lake, Maine, circa 1840, a pine wood box in mustard yellow paint and with a hinged breadboard top realized $6,143. A pine storage cupboard, 48 by 42 by 17 inches, in the original orange stain had two doors and sat on a tall arched cutout base and also fetched $6,143.
A phone bidder took a New Lebanon pine work counter with drop leaves, two graduated drawers on each end and a full drawer along the front for $5,850.
An Enfield, N.H., birch side chair with tall flame finials and three graduated slats had an early caned seat and sold to a phone bidder for $4,680. The chair had shaped brass bands at the bottom of the back legs to prevent the feet from splitting.
A Harvard or Shirley double bookshelf in the original red stained pine with beading, dovetailing, and label dated from around 1850 and sold for $3,510.
All prices reported include the 17 percent buyer’s premium. For information, www.willishenry.com or 781-834-7774.
