Field trip report: BASSG Art Complex Museum visit 9/27/2014

Attended: Michael Fisher, Merry Post, Karen Omahen, Beth and Kurt Hansen, John Raye and Frances, Janeth Norman, Tom Prew, Kathy Moriarty.

 

 

For those of you who wanted to join us but were unable to, here is a description of some of the Shaker objects that we saw on our field trip to Duxbury. Curator Craig Bloodgood and Museum Director Charles Weyerhaeuser met us at the door and allowed us to walk around the selected Shaker objects they had brought out of storage for our enjoyment. We were able to peer inside and under drawers to see inscriptions.

 

Some of the objects that Craig brought up for us to view can be seen in the attached photos (courtesy of Michael Fisher):

 

·         The two green boxes were a double container designed for carefully transporting a queen bee to a new hive. The inner box had springs on the top drawer to keep it from sliding open and allowing the queen to escape. The lower drawer had an air hole (to admit calming smoke?). Flexible metal strips inside the outer box cushioned the inner box and ensured a snug fit with some air space.

 

·         A chair made for Ella Bruce Malcolm in 1929 by Lillian Barlow and William H. Perkins of the Second Family of New Lebanon. It had mushroom arms with large hand rests and a hand-written inscription: “God’s Chosen few incarnate in order to heal.”

 

·         A cabinet signed by Henry Hollister.

 

·         A dainty sisters’ sewing table.

 

·         A lovely, portable writing desk with compartments for ink and pens and room for documents below the folding lid.

 

·         A new acquisition: a tall, backless adjustable stool with a wide base.

 

We also saw carpentry tools and a handsome bureau made of figured wood. At Craig’s recommendation, we had lunch at a French bakery and then walked to the town dock to enjoy the harbor view and spectacular weather. Jan Norman shared the apples she had just picked.

 

 

 

 

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