A Bower of Mulberry Trees, by Hannah Cohoon, September 13, 1854
Name/Title
A Bower of Mulberry Trees, by Hannah Cohoon, September 13, 1854Entry/Object ID
2024.0.29Tags
ShakersDescription
Silkscreen reproduction of Hannah Cohoon's "A Bower of Mulberry Trees," a Shaker spirit drawing/gift drawing featuring an arch of mulberry trees and text above a table with food. The original painting was completed in 1854 in Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts. Print is most likely by Allen Saalburg's Canal Press in Frenchtown, New Jersey, 1949. Text below tree reads: "September 13 1854 Blessed Mother Ann came into meeting we had a very powerful meeting and I saw a beautiful great bower four square on the ground; the trees met together overhead as you will perceive by the representation; it was painted upon a large white sheet and held up over the brethrens heads, I saw it very distinctly. Afterward the spirit presented to my view three leaves painted, belonging too the bower which was shown to me in meeting so I might know ho to paint them more correctly. The long white table standing under the bower stood at the left hand close by the side of the tee with cake knives &c upon it; I saw Elder Ebenezer Bishop and Elder Nathaniel Deming take off their hats go into the bower then too the table ate standing up. From thence they went to the spring just beyond the square to the right hand and drank keeping off their hats until they got fully out of the bower. N.B. The ground was cover'd with beautiful short green grass; I saw the small tree bearing the fruit of Paradise very plainly, there was much ripe fruit on them which was very smooth and of a lively deep green color, the size of our largest english cherries. (They appeared to shine) The spirits said they were green when ripe, each berry appeared to grow separately close to the limbs — Afterwards I saw many brethren sitting upon long benches in the bower."Context
North Union Shakers grew mulberry trees to cultivate silk.Collection
Permanent CollectionCategory
Artwork