Medium
Cherry, butternut, pine, basswood, sycamore, maple
Dimensions
28 x 32 1/2 x 23 1/2 in. (71.1 x 82.6 x 59.7 cm)
Classification
Sewing table
Culture
American, Shaker
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Friends of the American Wing Fund, 1966
Accession Number
66.10.18
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum Art, this *Sewing Table* (1843), crafted by James X. of the United Society of Bel in Christ’s Second Appe—better known as the Shakersexemplifies the sect's profound commitment to simplicity and utility. Measuring a compact 28 x 32½ x 23½ inches, the table is ingeniously designed for everyday use in Shaker communities, where sewing was a communal task essential to their self-sufficient lifestyle. Its clean lines and lack of ornamentation reflect the Shakers' spiritual ethos: "Beauty rests in utility," as one of their maxims proclaimed. Co...
About the Artist
James X. Smith|United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”) ( |American) · 1806 |1750 –1888 |9999
1806–1888|American, active ca. 1750–present