Rare painted maple and pine Shaker red oval box New York or New England, early to mid 19th century

David A. Schorsch, New York, 1990

"Folk Art Revealed," New York, American Folk Art Museum, November 16, 2004-August 23, 2009

American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, p. 312, fig. 272

Craquelure on top and sides. Some touch-ups scattered throughout.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Although nineteenth-century Shakers proscribed the use of decorative or ornamental painting, the rich painted colors of their oval boxes demonstrate that color had an important place in Shaker life. Written rules and regulations, which helped order life in the communities during part of the nineteenth century, even specified the colors to be applied to various classes of buildings, inside and out, as well as to certain kinds of household furniture and other utilitarian objects. Reds and yellows are among the more frequently used colors on boxes, a reflection, perhaps, of the Millennial Laws or Gospel Statutes and Ordinances of 1845; according to Part III, Section IX, of this compilation, "[o]val or nice boxes may be stained reddish or yellow, but not varnished."¹

The creation of an oval box requires great skill. The body of the box, often a thin strip of maple, must be shaped around an oval mold following steaming or soaking in water to obtain the necessary degree of suppleness. The characteristic swallowtail joints, or "fingers," give the box its distinctive appearance. Tiny tacks are used to affix the joints and attach the bottom, generally a thin pine board. The top, which must be crafted to exacting measurements to fit properly, is constructed in similar fashion.

Shaker craftsmen created oval boxes in many sizes, sometimes in graduated nests. While made for a variety of needful purposes, small boxes like the exquisite red box in this collection were often intended as keepsakes or gifts. -G.C.W.

¹ The Millennial Laws of 1845 represent the most elaborate statement of Shaker rules of conduct and were amended and simplified in 1860. For a full transcription, see Edward Deming Andrews, The People Called Shakers: A Search for the Perfect Society (New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1953), pp. 249-89.