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Shaker Museum

Rack, Towel

Towel rack, North Family, Mount Lebanon, NY

Object ID:
1950.2707.1
Community:
New York, Mount Lebanon
Makers
Shaker
Description

Towel rack. Rack comprises a brown rectangular board with five darkly stained wood brackets. Secured between each bracket is a wooden mortised cylinder in which one arm is secured. The rack originally had four arms (one is now broken and missing). The arms are thin pieces of wood which taper as they move away from the cylinder.

Notes

The museum accession record states that this rack is "From one of the kitchens in the Sisters' house." A photograph of the North Family kitchen (1950.4081.1 and 1955.7462.1) taken by James E. West in the First Dwelling at the North Family appears to include this towel rack in its original location. In the photograph the rack is mounted on the wall just behind the right end of the cook stove -- a place where wet towels would dry quickly. In the photograph only three of the arms are visible so it is not possible to tell if the fourth missing arm was broken while the rack was in its original location or at a later date.

New York Mount Lebanon North Family

New York Mount Lebanon North Family

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Copyright of this artwork Citation rules

Citation rules

Shaker Museum Rack, Towel. https://shakermuseum.us/object/?id=22306. Accessed on May 16, 2024

RELATED OBJECTS

1950.4081.1 - Photograph, Cabinet - In the Kitchen

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1955.7462.1 - Photograph, Cabinet - In the Kitchen, North Family, Mount Lebanon, NY

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Shane Rothe

Curatorial Associate

Shane Rothe (they/them) joined Shaker Museum in July 2023, working with independent curator Maggie Taft on an exhibition for the new museum space in Chatham. Shane is an artist as well as a curator and continues to create in the mediums of painting, sculpture, writing, and performance. Shane holds a BFA from CalArts and an MA in art history and curatorial studies from the University of Chicago.