Robert LeHay grew up in a small community in central Maine. He often tagged along to local antiques auctions and barn sales with his parents and grandparents to help supply their antiques businesses. In the 1980s his parents started making reproduction Shaker-style cabinets to sell along with the antiques in their shop.
In 1993 Lehay took a class at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village to learn how to make Shaker boxes. He has enjoyed two decades of re-creating these wonderful boxes in various painted finishes. He makes all of his boxes and carriers using maple and quarter-sawn pine, with ash for the carrier handles, fastening the bands, tops, and bottoms with copper tacks. He then paints them in traditional colors and gives them an aged finish.
Artisans wishing to participate in the 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts™ may download applications by clicking here. Because of the uncertainty of mail delivery caused by the Pandemic, we have extended the deadline for entries. We will accept entries postmarked by February 15, 2021. Those selected will be notified after judging in April, 2021. The 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts™ will appear in the August 2021 issue of Early American Life.
1,991 days until America's Sestercentennial
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BACKGROUND
Our December 2020 edition has been printed on schedule and is on its way to all of our subscribers. Because of the Covid-19 situation, postal delivery sometimes is taking longer than usual, so please be patient. Subscribers should get their magazines before Decembesr begins. Email us at