BOOK: Pleasant Hill Shaker Furniture

Shaker furniture fans, you're in luck! It's not often that a book comes along that provides an incisive look into the design and history of this beautifully simple and simply beautiful genre of American furniture. Designed and built by a devout religious sect founded in the 18th century, Shaker furniture exudes a certain aura that intimidates many woodworkers, who feel that the design and joinery is beyond their grasp. But nothing could be further from the truth. The clean lines and spare ornamentation actually put the work well within reach of woodworkers of all skill levels. And the designs are so essential that they sit comfortably at home in all sorts of room settings.

In Pleasant Hill Shaker Furniture, author Kerry Pierce shares his obvious passion of Shaker furniture, architecture, and lifestyle. Any fan of Shaker style will appreciate this ambitious book, which strips away the sect's mystique to illuminate the life and work of its practitioners. Focusing specifically on the Kentucky Shaker community of Pleasant Hill, Pierce invites you to join him for an intimate look at Shaker woodwork and the people who crafted it.

The book includes a brief, entertaining history of the Pleasant Hill community, providing valuable insight into the Shaker values that influenced the design and construction of everything from buildings to furniture. The chapters on the Pleasant Hill woodshops in the 19th century and today are bound to inspire any woodworker. And if this isn't enough to pique your interest, the sections on furniture design elements and casework construction should seal the deal.

Pleasant Hill Shaker Furniture includes stunning photography, and offers the next best thing to actually visiting this monument to the Shakers' achievements. There's probably no better way to begin your own monumental achievements than by building one of the handcrafted pieces of furniture you'll find in this book.