John Keith Russell

The oval pantry box is an iconic Shaker object. Often displayed in graduated stacks, assembling a colorful arrangement can be an engaging and lengthy pursuit for a Shaker collector. The first Shaker oval boxes were made in New Lebanon, New York, around the turn of the nineteenth century. Soon after, boxes were made by craftsmen in the Canterbury, Alfred, Sabbathday Lake, Union Village, and Pleasant Hill communities. This stack of three oval boxes originates from various communities between 1850-1870. Painted in bittersweet, chrome yellow, and red, the boxes form a compelling spectrum of complementary hues. Maple and pine with copper rivets and brads. All retaining an old or original surface.