Durable Beauty: Shaker Baskets

Located at: Columbia County Historical Society; 5 Albany Avenue, Kinderhook NY

Shaker craftsmen were highly skilled and their products were an expression of their worldview. Labor was a form of worship and it was the duty of each believer to live purely and to strive for perfection in everything they did.

Baskets in particular are coveted for their simple, utilitarian forms and durable construction. Shakers manufactured both utility baskets and “fancy-work” baskets; fancy baskets were sold in their shops alongside other everyday items such as brooms, bonnets, and chairs.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.