ticketsMember | Make a donation

Architectural elements from a Retiring Room in the North Family Dwelling American, New Lebanon, New York

ca. 1830–40
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 734
The Shakers were a socially progressive Protestant sect that believed in racial and sexual equality, pacifism, and common property. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Shakers had established eighteen communes, from Maine to Kentucky, for nearly 6,000 members. This room has been installed with architectural elements from the North Family Dwelling at "Mount Lebanon" in upstate New York as well as Shaker-made furniture and textiles. The North Family Dwelling was a five-story building designated for one of Mount Lebanon’s eight work-and-faith units, or "families," which contained kitchens, dining rooms, a large chapel and meeting room, and retiring rooms. This room served as both a bedroom and, as proscribed by the Shakers’ Millennial Laws, a place to retire to "in silence, for the space of half an hour, and labor for a sense of the gospel, before attending meeting." Originally, the room would have had several beds for the women who shared it. As in many Shaker interiors, a pegboard runs around the room to suspend objects from the floor for more efficient storage and daily cleaning routines. The built-in cupboards, pegboards, austere furnishings, and stained woodwork reveal three of the most typical characteristics of Shaker design: utility, simplicity, and beauty.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Architectural elements from a Retiring Room in the North Family Dwelling American, New Lebanon, New York
  • Maker: United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”) (American, active ca. 1750–present)
  • Date: ca. 1830–40
  • Geography: Made in New Lebanon, New York, United States
  • Culture: American, Shaker
  • Medium: Wood
  • Dimensions: Dimensions unavailable
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Emily Crane Chadbourne Bequest, 1972
  • Object Number: 1972.187.1
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

Audio

Cover Image for 3865. Architectural elements from North Family Dwelling, New Lebanon, New York, Part 1

3865. Architectural elements from North Family Dwelling, New Lebanon, New York, Part 1

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

    Listen to more about this artwork

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Poster
United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”)
20th century
Candlestick, United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”) American, Tin, American, Shaker
Candlestick
United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”)
1820–60
Bonnet, United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”) American, Straw, American, Shaker
Bonnet
United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”)
1800–1900
Knitted rug, United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”) American, Wool, knitted, braided and woven, American, Shaker
Knitted rug
United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”)
1870–1900
Peg Board
United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”)
1830–40

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 5

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.