Selling Shaker: The Promotion of Shaker Design in the Twentieth Century (Liverpool University Press - Value-Art-Politics)

The Shakers OCo a religious community whose origins are founded in the eighteenth century OCo continue to exert an influence upon twenty-first century life, not for their religious teachings but rather through the simple yet elegant aesthetic they developed for the everyday artefacts they designed for themselves. Selling Shaker explores this influence and charts its evolution throughout the course of the twentieth century via the interest shown by the media, art institutions and general public in the Shaker story. While other books have sought to examine the origins of the religious or aesthetic basis of the movement, . Selling Shaker examines the means by which the Shakers have been OCypromotedOCO during the course of the last century by scholars and museum academics in order to establish a OCynationalOCO style. The book follows this process from high art to popular culture influences illustrating how the Shaker style has entered the general design consciousness and in doing so has become a generic style largely divorced from the original Shaker aesthetic. Using a variety of sources ranging from museum catalogues to contemporary design magazines, . Selling Shaker tells the story of the rise and rise of the Shaker phenomenon." The Shakers - A Religious Community With Its Origins In The Eighteenth Century - Continue To Exert An Influence Upon Twenty-first Century Life, Not For Their Religious Teachings But Rather Through The Simple Yet Elegant Aesthetic They Developed For The Everyday Artefacts They Designed. Selling Shaker Explores This Influence And Charts Its Evolution Throughout The Course Of The Twentieth Century Via The Interest Shown By The Media, Art Institutions And General Public In The Shaker Story. While Other Books Have Sought To Examine The Origins Of The Religious Or Aesthetic Basis Of The Movement Throughout The Course Of The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries, This Book Seeks To Deal With The Shaker Phenomenon From A Different Angle. Selling Shaker Examines The Means By Which The Shakers Have Been 'promoted' During The Course Of The Last Century By Scholars And Museum Academics In Order To Establish A 'national' Style. The Book Follows This Process From High Art To Popular Culture Influences, Illustrating How The Shaker Style Has Entered The General Design Consciousness And In Doing So Has Become Largely Divorced From The Original Shaker Aesthetic. Using A Variety Of Sources Ranging From Museum Catalogues To Contemporary Design Magazines, Selling Shaker Tells The Story Of The Rise And Rise Of The Shaker Phenomenon.--book Jacket. Foreword -- Introduction -- Simple And Pure -- The Early Promotion Of Shaker Design In The United States Of America -- Forms And Forces -- The Penetration Of Shaker Design Into Museum And Popular Cultures -- Spirit And Function ; The Infiltration Of Shaker Design Into Museum And Popular Cultures -- West And East ; The Movement Of Shaker Design Into Museum And Popular Cultures From The West To The East And Vice Vera. Stephen Bowe And Peter Richmond. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 345-393) And Index. The simple yet striking lines of Shaker design grace much of the furniture we see in high-end department stores, and beautiful examples of it adorn the pages of Architectural Digest and House Beautiful. How did this style evolve from its origins in a humble, small religious community to the international design phenomenon it is today? This illustrated study explores the emergence of the Shaker style and how it was vigorously promoted by scholars and artists into the prominence it now enjoys. The heart of the Shaker style lies in the religious movement founded in the eighteenth century, where Stephen Bowe and Peter Richmond begin their chronicle. From there, the authors chart the evolution of the style into the twentieth century - particularly in the hands of design media, scholars, and art institutions. These Shaker "agents" repositioned Shaker style continuously - from local vernacular to high culture and then popular culture. Drawing on a rich array of sources, including museum catalogs, contemporary design magazines, and scholarly writings, Selling Shaker illustrates in detail how the Shaker style entered the general design consciousness and how the original aesthetic was gradually diluted into a generic style for a mass audience. A wholly original and fascinating study of American design and consumption, Selling Shaker is a unique resource for collectors, scholars, and anyone interested in the cultural history of a design aesthetic. Annotation The Shakers & ndash; a religious community whose origins are founded in the eighteenth century & ndash; continue to exert an influence upon twenty-first century life, not for their religious teachings but rather through the simple yet elegant aesthetic they developed for the everyday artefacts they designed for themselves. Selling Shaker aims to explore this influence and chart its evolution throughout the course of the twentieth century via the interest shown by the media, art institutions and general public in the Shaker story. Whilst other books have sought to examine the origins of the religious or aesthetic basis of the movement throughout the course of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this book seeks to deal with the Shaker phenomenon from a different angle. Selling Shaker examines the means by which the Shakers have been & lsquo;promoted & rsquo; during the course of the last century by scholars and museum academics in order to establish a & lsquo;national & rsquo; style. The book follows this process from high art to popular culture influences illustrating how the Shaker style has entered the general design consciousness and in doing so has become a generic style largely divorced from the original Shaker aesthetic. Using a variety of sources ranging from museum catalogues to contemporary design magazines, Selling Shaker aims to tell the story of the rise and rise of the Shaker phenomenon "The Shakers -- a religious community whose origins are founded in the eighteenth century -- continue to exert an influence upon twenty-first century life, not for their religious teachings but rather through the simple yet elegant aesthetic they developed for the everyday artefacts they designed for themselves. Selling Shaker aims to explore this influence and chart its evolution throughout the course of the twentieth century via the interest shown by the media, art institutions and general public in the Shaker story. Whilst other books have sought to examine the origins of the religious or aesthetic basis of the movement throughout the course of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this book seeks to deal with the Shaker phenomenon from a different angle. Selling Shaker examines the means by which the Shakers have been 'promoted' during the course of the last century by scholars and museum academics in order to establish a 'national' style. The book follows this process from high art to popular culture influences illustrating how the Shaker style has entered the general design consciousness and in doing so has become a generic style largely divorced from the original Shaker aesthetic. Using a variety of sources ranging from museum catalogues to contemporary design magazines, Selling Shaker aims to tell the story of the rise and rise of the Shaker phenomenon."-- Provided by publisher