Sewing Carrier: A #4 oval box with a swing handle, satin-lined, containing four sewing notions - tomato pin cushion, strawberry emory, woven poplarware needle book, and beeswax. This historically accurate piece is an example of a Shaker production piece made for sale to the World's people or fancy goods trade.Tinder Box: This version is a No. 2 oval box. The piece is fitted with tin candleholder tacked to the underneath side of the lid and contains a box of stick matches, three hand-dipped beeswax candles and a small piece of tinder, just in case there’s a need to start to a fire.Curly Maple Rocking Chair: An adaptive, proportionate rendition of the traditional shaker style, these pieces are available with and without arms in Cherry, Maple and Walnut and an assortment of hand-woven band colors.
"The Shaker chair is an outward expression of internal concepts: simplicity, separation from the world, utilitarianism, community, and a dedication to fine craftsmanship. It is a philosophy of life presented in tangible form." (Muller and Rieman) My chairs are interpretative reproductions of those made at the Mt. Lebanon, New York Shaker Village. I strive to equal their craftsmanship. Each chair is individually hand-made using select hardwoods.
Inspired to improve upon the mundane, Shaker woodworkers stripped the traditional New England circular-shaped pantry box of any ornamentation and developed an oval-shaped alternative. This reduced stress on the wood, and included a refined and strengthened joint by means of a swallowtail design. Along the way, Shakers turned box making into an efficient and lucrative operation in several of their communities.
Although seemingly simple to make, the Shaker box is a test of woodworking skill that relies on patience, precision and reverence. These same qualities exist today at Pete Baxter Woodworks reproducing oval boxes, in addition to carriers, chairs and other specialty pieces, honoring the same Shaker traditions.
