Matching Shaker wrought steel tongs and long-handled shovel, small ball tops, elegantly designed opening for tongs, with rounded shaft tapered downward to the flattened petal shaped log holders, 22" l; Shovel with an even smaller ball top and round tapered shaft thickening into a grip and again tapering further down to a 2 1/2" squared section that becomes the pan of the flared shovel, New Lebanon, NY, 19 1/2g" l.

Absolutely one of the most elegant pair of Shaker stove tools made by a master Shaker craftsman, together with a cherry wood tool holder made especially for these tools by Dr. J.J.G. McCue, 8" l.

Given to Dr. McCue by Sister Jennie Wells, Hancock, MA, 1948 (Dr. McCue's Journal Entry #45).

Soapstone (6" sq) with Shaker wool covering in blue and white checkered pattern, with two blue buttoned tabs for taking stone out to be heated on stove, inside lined with a brown Shaker cotton fabric, the stone is marked with a glued-on paper star with ".65" in blue ink, a tied manila tag is attached to one of the tabs written in blue ink by Dr. J.J.G. McCue with a detailed history of where it was purchased and what the possibilities were of how the Shakers might have used it, Canterbury, NH, c. 1840-1850.

Canterbury Shakers, Canterbury, NH

Mrs. Benjamin Moore, Center Harbor, NH

Richard Withington Auction

Cast iron, rectangular top section with pin hinged removable door, with turned maple handle to lift door latch, small hinged door at lower edge for draft, all on a cast iron fitted base with extended circular segment, with raised lip in front of the door, fitted below on four octagonal-shaped tapered legs with round penny feet, c. 1840, excellent condition and in a classic Shaker style from New Lebanon or Watervliet, an exceptional stove with great provenance, 20" h, 23 1/2" l (stove box), 33 1/2" overall l, 10" w (stove box), 12 1/2" w (at front circular segment); together with a stove board, zinc covered with an arabesque design, 28" sq.

Tag on stove and glued labels on board referring to the stove as "Mary Dahm, her stove, 1960", and "Mary Dahm's stove board bought from her in 1960 Hancock."

Dr. McCue once said to us over lunch in his home in Lexington, Mass. that he finally realized that he was a collector when he had five stoves. This was one of the last ones he purchased and one he prized highly as he knew both Sister Mary and Sister Grace Dahm of Hancock.

Mary Dahm, Trustee, Hancock, MA

Rare 19th c. Shaker hand-forged iron stove tool, flattened and flared top edge (6") with circular shaped hole at top for hanging on a small peg, long cylindrical shaft (31") bent, flattened and widened at the end, (4"), for pulling ash out of back of stove; together with an etching of a Shaker stove with bent stove pipe, signed l.r. in pencil "Landeck" (Armin Landeck, American, 1905-1984), labeled on reverse "Framed at Goodspeed's Book Shop, Inc., 18 Beacon Street, Boston, 1/14/61, No. 3905.", matted and framed, 8 1/2" x 6 1/4" (sight).

Ash scraper purchased at Canterbury from Eldress Emma King. Found in the Antique Shop in the Schoolhouse in 1951 and paid $3.00

Classic 19th c. Shaker hand-forged iron, elegantly formed and beveled spade-shaped top and bottom, 11 1/2" h, with petal-shaped thumb latch extending through the plate and ultimately through the wooden door, with a tapered hook that terminates to a small solid curl, original shaped and tapered 8" latch with the rectangular forged iron latch guide, and the original Shaker forged iron shaped latch hook on the beveled back plate, all pieces retain black painted finish with natural patina.

Provenance:

Maple, original stained and varnish finish, older rush seats, stamped on top of left front posts on both chairs "1853", New Lebanon, NY, Second Family, (Note: Important chairs in the Shaker chair making industry as there are three known with the date 1853, "...distinguished by exceptional grace in the proportions and in the shape of the tilting foot." June Sprigg, Guest Curator, the exhibition of Shaker Masterworks of Utilitarian Design...of America's Foremost Communal Religious Sect, November 20, 1983 through January 8, 1984; Dr. McCue's journal refers to a #91 Pair of Teeter Chairs (now referred to as "tilter"), dated 1853 in stamping on top of right leg of each, 17 1/2" seat h, 41" overall h.

Purchased from James Brown in 1949 for $55.

Maple and pine, original Shaker green painted finish, rope foundation, wheels are maple with natural varnish finish, turned posts fitted with cast iron collar, slotted to fit over an iron piece in the maple wheel; wheels were used to make "it possible to roll the cots away from the wall when the sisters made them up in the morning" (Shaker Furniture, Edward Deming and Faith Andrews, p. 94). "....In pursuance of the Holy Laws and Ordinances these "nun-like" beds were invariably painted green...", 29" h (at headboard recut), 19 3/4" h (at foot rail), 73 1/2" l.

Purchased from Dr. Edward D. and Faith Andrews in 1947 for $30.  "...who got it from the attic of the red brick dwelling at Hancock...This dark green was called Ministry Green...".

Pine and maple, original bittersweet orange painted finish, three fingers right to left, Sabbathday Lake, ME, c. 1840, 2 1/2" h, 7 5/8" l, 5 1/8" d.

A low profile Sabbathday Lake, Maine oval box in excellent color and condition.

Eldress Prudence Stickney (used for holding string)

Sister Mildred Barker (Trustee)

A Summary View of the Millennial Church…, Albany: 1848, Second Edition, Signature of "Mildred Barker" in blue ink on front end sheet, "M.B." in pencil on second front end sheet, Richmond 744; Original Shaker Music Published by The North Family…, New York: 1893, Card laid in "Bought from Sr Mildred Barker by mail Feb '71. Wrapping is original. From Binder. Truly a mint copy. J. McCue.".

Maple, birch and pine, original red stained/painted finish, front of the desk has six drawers across top (three sets of two over two) above the work surface, this is above a pull-out sewing slide with white porcelain pulls, above three small drawers on left and three larger drawers on the right, all on turned and tapered legs, Sabbathday Lake, ME, c. 1840-1850, 27 1/2" h to work surface, 39 1/4" overall h, 30" with case.

A flower is painted on the sliding work board "by a hired man about 1905." Dr. McCue's Journal Entry #230. This was one of Dr. McCue's favorite desks, and the painting of the flower he found unique and intriguing. A classic sewing desk in color.

Eldress Jennie Mathers (1877-1946), Sabbathday Lake, Maine

Sister Eleanor Philbrick (Trustee)

Dr. J.J.G. McCue purchased from Sister Philbrick in 1953 for $160

Silk screen reproduction, ink and original watercolor A Bower of Mulberry Trees, by Hannah Cahoon, Sept 13, 1854, shows intertwining trees with a dining table below set with cakes, knives, etc., 19" x 24 1/2" (sight), 28 1/2" x 34 1/2" (framed).

The original ink and watercolor was given to Hancock Shaker Village by the Andrews.

This exceptional and early print hung inside the front door over the Sister's sewing desk from Sabbathday Lake (Lot 35) in the Lexington, Massachusetts home of the McCue's.

Purchased from Dr. Edward D. and Faith Andrews in 1948 for $25 (Dr. McCue's Journal Entry #57).

The original ink and watercolor: Plate VI, Visions of the Heavenly Sphere, Edward Deming Andrews and Faith Andrews.

Pine, original yellow paint, boldly initialed in black paint on the side "J.J.B.", the interior is painted gray, heavy wire swing handle with finely turned cherry handle, large black diamond-shaped bail plates, each secured with a pair of handmade screws, stamped in light ink in four places on the bottom "J.J. Briggs" (Sister Julia J. Briggs), and also written in pencil "A.f.f", 9" h (to rim), 15" h (to handle), 12" dia.

Dr. McCue's Journal Entry #113, "Sisters Ethel Peacock and Mildred Barker say the bail and its socket are characteristic of Enfield, and that the Pail was used for general pailing purposes."

One of the finest Shaker coopered pails in original color we have ever sold. It was always near the fireplace in the McCue's living room next to Alfred Collier's Harvard desk (Lot 5).

Maple, tiger maple front posts, natural varnish finish with patina, sharply defined and finely turned finials, five graduated slats, original black ash splint seat (breaks in middle and along front rail), beveled flat arms terminating in a reverse curved curl, finely turned arm supports in tiger maple, shaped rockers inserted into the legs and securely pinned with maple pegs, New Lebanon, NY, c. 1820-1830, 16" seat h, 48 1/2" overall h.

This chair was entered in Dr. McCue's journal as "140. Five Slat Rocker." and that "Faith Andrews says five slat rockers are very rare, they have one with mushrooms on the arms. It seems as though this one would be older."

J. Gillies, Lenox, Massachusetts antique dealer

J. Brown, Lee, Massachusetts

Dr. J.J. Gerald McCue, purchased in 1950 for $45