Almost all things made by the Shaker religious communities in the 19th century are going up in price. It took a bid of $206,500 to get the well-documented Shaker washstand sold at the Willis Henry Auction held Sept. 6, 2014. The pine and poplar washstand with ochre stain was signed "Made by James V. Calver [a Shaker cabinetmaker], April 1862." Prices for other items at the sale were also high. I live across the street from a long-gone Shaker community, but alas they left no furniture behind. Just some graves, the remains of a grist mill, a series of lakes, and a few apple trees.
Photo Credit: Willis Henry Auctions, Inc.
I wonder about Shaker reproductions done by Spring Lake Michigan company who had the permission and
acceptance of his design plans of the few Shaker members out East. He often had to change them many times before they would accept them.