Black Ash Shaker Baskets by Robert M. Gelinas

In 1995 ...the journey begins...

I remember my first visit to the Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH.  Being a believer of traditions and hard work, the village and Shaker life/belief  intrigued me.  I felt  I had much in common with these people for as they strove for perfection within God's kingdom, I too am a perfectionist!  Walking the grounds, one could almost feel what Canterbury must of been like many many years ago.  The name alone to me had a magical sound to it!

During my visit, I stopped in at the basket shop.  This was the first time that I had seen such beautiful baskets.  Baskets made from a tree found locally called black (brown) ash.  Here was perfection in every piece.   I don't know what it was, but something within told me I needed to learn this art.  So it began, I signed up for a basket weaving course being offered at the Village... since then I've never looked backed!

The first few years, I developed my basket technique by taking classes using basket reed as the weaving material.  I made many and sold many baskets made of reed.   Though I was pleased with my work, something was missing, I needed something more.  I knew what it was, I wanted to make the baskets the Shaker's made.  Baskets that would last for many years to come.

So, over three years ago, I made the decision to move away from reed baskets and begin to focus on making black ash baskets.  I found out that this wasn't as easy as one might think.  Yes, you can buy black ash weaving material from basket suppliers, but once again that wasn't for me.  I wanted to start from scratch, from the tree to the basket.  I remember asking a local basket maker where I could find some "black ash" trees.  I was surprised by the response for  I was told "go out in the woods and start looking for it".  I thought, this basket maker just doesn't want to share their special little grove with me.  At first I was a somewhat offended,  but then I realized, this person was right.  The only way to learn is by doing.

I spent weeks looking for "the" tree, confusing white ash with brown ash.  It was early spring and there were no leaves on the trees making it hard to find..  One day, walking through a swamp, I finally found my first black ash.  Unfortunately, it was on town property.  It didn't matter, I still felt like I found a pot of gold!  Since then, I've pounded quite a few  trees.

Part of making black ash baskets is learning to work and manage the wood.  Each step of the way I would experiment with this and with that to see what would and wouldn't work.  Each step of the way, there were frustrations and barriers, but each time, I learned to work thru them.  Then in the past year, everything has seemed to come together.  I began to feel that my work was getting to the point, that once again I could show it to the world.

This past spring, I started to volunteer one afternoon a week (Tuesday) at the Shaker Village.  I felt what better way to feel inspired, then to work at Canterbury, which was second to Mt. Lebanon, NY as the center for Shaker basket making.  I've met a lot of wonderful people not only at the village, but from around the world.  Though I give my time freely, I must admit  that what I've received from this experience is more then anyone could ever pay me.

My basket experience has not only taught me more about Shaker basket making, but much more.  I've learned more about trees and tree conservation (something I've never thought of previously), New England's Indian heritage, wood safety (deer ticks!), etc.  Who knows what the future will hold?

Though basket making is currently only a passionate hobby (I work professionally full time), my plan is to continue to learn more about this wonderful craft, so that one day I will be able to retire as a master basket maker.  By then, maybe I'll achieved perfection!

Please enjoy my site.  I hope you find Shaker baskets as wonderful as I.

Bob Gelinas