Lot 79: Shaker Letter and Oval Box

Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000
Price Realized: $1,416

Brown ink on white paper, three pages with address from New Lebanon, Feb. 3, 1828 to (Isaac) Gardiner Sprague (1805-1838), Hingham, Mass., from Brother Daniel Lirer (former resident of Hingham and close friend of G. Sprague), he describes New Lebanon, its buildings, the Shaker family (of about 600 people), the sale of garden seeds, pails, tubs, brooms, the harmony of the community, “We are industrious, cheerful and happy”, and describes a Shaker “Proctor Sampson formerly form Marshfield lives in the same family that I do”, “…from your sincere friend Daniel Lirer.”, “PS. Excuse the the bad written letter for I was in great hast and wrote a part of it by candlelight…DL.”, (ex. John P. Richardson collection, Hingham, MA); Oval box, maple and pine, natural finish, old patina, two fingers right to left, steel tacks and pegs, paper label on front “Epsom Salts”, also found at Gardner Sprague estate, Hingham, MA (via S. Randall Lincoln), dated “1829”, 2 3/8″ h, 6 1/2″ l, (ex. John P. Richardson collection, Hingham, MA).