Shaker Textile Arts by Beverly Gordon

Despite world-wide attention to Shaker furniture and architecture, Shaker textiles have received little public notice, even though they are ubiquitous in the Shaker environment. This lack of recognition is unfortunate but hardly surprising. Domestic textiles do not, on the whole, receive much attention anywhere. Textile work was usually done by women, and its status was usually low. The quality of Shaker textiles is particularly subtle, and it is necessary to delve more deeply than usual to understand fully their beauty and integrity. It is worth while to do so, for Shaker textiles are as much a reflection of the Shakers' ideas, beliefs and attitudes as any of their other work, and the same aesthetic characteristics are found in them. This book is a comprehensive study of the textiles of the Shakers. Though it is written for a general audience, some technical information is introduced, and patterns, recipes and construction details appear in the Appendixes for readers with specific interests.

{BACK}