An egg ornament picturing the Round Barn at Hancock Shaker Village
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – In keeping with the Shakers’ history of selling their wares downtown, Hancock Shaker Village will present its first ever holiday pop-up shop in downtown Pittsfield in the private dining room at Spice Dragon (297 North Street) on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, 2011, noon to 7 pm, as well as hold its annual holiday sale at the Museum Store from Friday, November 25 through Sunday, December 4, 10am to 5 pm daily and online at Hancock Shaker Village 24/7 during this time frame.
Shoppers will score great deals at all three locations on unique gifts, such as Shaker oval boxes and carriers, prints and posters, greeting cards, food items (soup mixes, jams, honey, etc), children’s gifts, holiday ornaments, and Shaker music CDs. Hancock Shaker Village Members will receive an extra 20% discount off sale prices.
While the holiday pop-up shop is a first for the museum, the Hancock Shakers sold their goods in Pittsfield both as peddlers and at local stores from the 1790s through the 1950s. Shaker products, ranging from seeds, herbal medicines, and candies to textiles, woodware, and pincushions, were renowned for their fine quality and were considered good products at fair prices. In 1808, Pittsfield Congregational Minister Thomas Allen described the Shakers as “very harmless, innocent people, good citizens, and honest, industrious, peaceable members of society. They are good farmers and artists, and offer nothing for sale that is deceptive.”
A pin-cushion ornament
In addition to the pop-up shop, this year the Village will launch a new feature on its store website called “Build Your Own Gift Basket,” where shoppers will be able to select a container size (anything from a small canvas tote to a beautiful size-six oval box) and fill it with items from a long list of options, including soups, jams, greeting cards, and herbs. In-store customers about both the museum and pop-up shops can build their own gift baskets as well.
Hancock Shaker Village is located on Route 20 in Pittsfield, Mass., just west of the junction of Routes 20 and 41. For GPS purposes, the Village is located at 34 Lebanon Mountain Rd., Hancock, Mass. 01237. Or, enter 1843 W. Housatonic St., Pittsfield, Mass. 01201 then proceed 1/2 mile further west on Rt. 20 to the parking lot.
For more information, visit Hancock Shaker Village or call 413.443.0188.