How
long does it take to make a box?
From start to finish, it usually takes us a week to complete a box. However,
the actual time it is in our hands can vary from half an hour up.
How many Shaker boxes and carriers do you produce in a year?
Because we hand-craft each box, we only produce approximately 5,000 pieces a
year.
Where is your workshop located?
Our workshop is located in small but beautiful Bloomfield, New Brunswick. Bloomfield
is about 40 minutes north-east of Saint John.
Who were the Shakers?
Mother Ann Lee founded the Shaker sect in England. Seeking religious tolerance
and freedoms, Mother Ann and eight followers came to America in 1774. Their
first permanent settlement was near Albany, New York. During the 19th century
Shaker 
membership
grew to about 6,000 converts living in 19 settlements throughout New England
and the Midwest.
The Shakers were known for their craftsmanship, industriousness, and spirituality.
Characterized by communal living, pacifism, and a belief in the equality of
all people, the Shaker movement in America has pretty much died out due to members
embracing celibacy. Read more about
the Shakers.
What sort of products were originally stored in Shaker boxes?
The Shakers stored a variety of dry goods in oval boxes. The oval boxes and
carriers were used in every aspect of their daily life from kitchen use out
to the workshop. I use mine all over the house - I have a swing
handle as first aid box and I store all my tacks we use in making
the boxes in them.
How do your boxes differ from other ones I see in stores and on the
internet?
Although I have not seen all of the other makers' products on the web, I can
comment on my own . All of our boxes and carriers are bent one at a time (by
me); all of our boxes and carriers are also fitted one at a time (by me). My
signature on the bottom of each Shaker box and carrier is your guarantee that
you are getting the finest quality Shaker oval box available anywhere.
Can
I get a Shaker Box in another colour?
The simple answer is no. We don't colour our boxes because we use only the most
beautiful wood, cherry, walnut and birds-eye maple - and we believe that nothing
can shine forth as perfectly as the natural grain of the wood. Having said that,
someday I hope to offer a line of stained boxes in colours similar to the Shaker
originals. Additionally, if there were enough of an interest in a certain wood
or colour, we may try it. Let
us know what colour you were looking for.
How can I get a store near me to carry your boxes?
Simply forward the store name
and complete mailing address to us and we would be happy to forward
our product information to them. I can't guarantee they will carry the product
but we will give it our best shot.
How can I order your product if no store around me carries your Shaker
Boxes?
We realize we can't be everywhere, so simply give us a call (toll free at 1.877.503.4440)
or send us an e-mail
and we will do our best to help you find what you are looking for.
The Shakers were known for their unusual living arrangement where men occupied one side of the house and women the other. Called "family dwellings," strict laws of chastity kept the two sexes apart. With this belief in total celibacy, the Shakers continued their population by legally taking in orphans and by converting others.