Grain and Groove presents: SHAKER
Who are the Shakers?
The Shakers are a religious sect that began as a breakaway movement from the Quakers in the 1700s. They became known as the 'Shakers' because of the energetic shaking and trembling movements that were part of their worship.
Led by Mother Ann Lee, they later moved from England to New York, where the first Shaker village was established. The community was centred around communal living, simplicity, pacifism, and work as worship.
Best known for their celibacy and furniture making, their progressive ideology is often overshadowed. The Shakers were innovative inventors who embraced technology and placed great importance on equality between the sexes. Their celibacy helped create a society with less restricitve gender roles. Today, only three Shakers remain, but their influence continues through their distinctive approach to design, craft and community.
As we learned more about the Shakers, we were blown away by the community's acceptance of people from all walks of life. This can be seen in the objects they created from lovingly crafted cradles for both infants and elderly to orthopaedic shoes and wheelchairs. The upmost care is taken with even the most functional of items.
While we realised that Shaker boxes were going to be an important addition to the Grain and Groove homeware collection, we had no idea how deeply we would come to respect and admire a community founded in the 1700s.
Makers
Grain and Groove
Grain and Groove is a woodworking studio based near North Berwick, East Lothian, founded by three Chippendale School of Furniture graduates: Laura, Ben and Chlomo. They create bespoke furniture and wooden wares that are full of character and artistic expression. They are inspired by a shared love of folk art, mythology and the Shaker movement.
What to expect: an assortment of shaker boxes, matchboxes and shaker rocking chairs
A multidisciplinary artist with a practice centred around slow craft, history, folklore and nature. They graduated from Leith School of Art in 2015 and went on to run a successful shop named Dahlia situated in Marchmont, South Edinburgh. The shop stocked a selection of house plants, candles, local artists prints and other thoughtfully curated gifts; during this time Phoebe started to sell her own artworks within Dahlia.
They closed their doors after a successful five year period and Phoebe moved into the world of product design. They have since been fortunate to travel to India and Morocco where they experienced working first hand with artisans collaboratively designing block print patterns, embroidery designs and more.
What to expect: intricately crafted metal silhouettes and paintings inspired by lepidoptery, folklore and their hometown of Edinburgh.
Rosalind Sumner’s exquisite handcrafted jewellery is a study in miniature detail of flora and fauna, creating heirloom pieces in both gold and silver.
What to expect: intricate, heirloom quality designs full of character and warmth.
When and where?
Shaker is on from the 4th of September to the 13th from 10am till 5pm.
At Thomsons Tower nestled in Dr Neils Garden, Duddingston.