New York craft history begins around the middle of the 19th Century with the Shakers. The Shakers were a religious denomination that was an offshoot of the Quakers. From its inception in 1747, the Shaker religion continued to grow in England. However, by 1774, due to widespread persecution of their beliefs, the Shakers left England for the Americas, and arrived in New York.
The crafts of the Shakers were created to fulfill the needs of their community, and were built to the highest standards of quality workmanship. In regards to their craft trades, the Shakers had the following saying: "Do your work as though you had a thousand years to live, and as if you were to die tomorrow." Thus, the Shakers' crafts look as if several years were spent working on them, but, this was not the case. The Shaker craftsmen were efficient as well as skilled in their craft.
The Shakers were well-noted for their skills with many different crafts, including leather making, linen weaving, and underwear knitting. They excelled at these crafts, which were in high demand during the early years of New York's evolution. But, more memorable than the crafts previously mentioned is the Shakers' talent for crafting well-built furniture. The Shakers' skills at making furniture were not touted for their aesthetic appeal because they were very utilitarian in their designs. The Shakers built furniture that was plain, yet durable and functional. By the beginning of the Civil War, the skills of Shaker furniture makers were in high demand due in part to the popularity of their rocking chairs.
Though the Shaker religion has all but disappeared, the creations of Shaker craftsmen still live on, and are widely remembered. Visitors to New York can see these craftworks first-hand. In New York City, the Museum of Arts and Design maintains pieces of Shaker crafts, as well as the Burchfield-Penney Art Center in Buffalo. In addition, the Shaker Heritage Society continues to preserve the craft labors of the Shakers. The society still maintains the first meeting house ever erected by the Shakers where visitors can take tours. It is also the center point of craft fairs during the warmer months.
The Shakers were not alone in their contributions to New York crafts. Several craft communities sprung up throughout New York near the beginning of the 20th Century. In 1895, the Raycroft Arts and Crafts Community was established. Today, this area is a small village known as East Aurora. During the community's beginnings, it was home to hundreds of craftspeople, many of whom were greatly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Stickley. Visitors to East Aurora today can experience the crafts of this community at the Elbert Hubbard Raycroft Museum, or can attend craft fairs and other similar events at the Raycroft Campus, which still stands today.
Another craft community to spring up around this period was the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, which was founded in 1902, and heralded in a fascination with glass during this period. The colony is best known for its creations in pottery, woodwork, and metalwork, but it is also noted for its glasswork.
The most noted glass artist of this time was Louis Comfort Tiffany, whose work is still widely known and sought after today. Visitors to New York will find ample opportunities to view his work. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located in Manhattan, hosts a permanent exhibit of Tiffany's work; from windows to lamps, to glass, vases, and even drawings, people will be able to experience the wide range of his talents.
The most noted crafts of New York culture were the results of discipline, circumstances, and the pursuit of perfection. There is no doubt that all were dedicated to the pursuit of perfection, but it was the Shakers who had the discipline to create such polarizing furniture pieces. For glass craftsman, it was the combination of the Erie Canal and an abundance of raw material that helped establish the Stueben Glass Works, which in turn inspired the talents of glass artisans. While visiting New York, a side trip to the Corning Museum of Glass will help solidify an appreciation for this craft. Here people can witness first hand the crafting of glass, and even participate in a hands-on workshop.
Though many of these highly cherished craft skills have faded today, there is no doubt that their memory continues to live on through the work of numerous craft organization, and the inspiration they promote in others to dig beyond the limelight of New York culture and find true richness.
