Horsehair chair!

I was going to write a series of post about why I chose Shaker chairs, but then this! I pulled out a Mount Lebanon No 6 Slat Back Rocker from my attic. It’s a nice chair with a nice old mahogany finish. I bought it at auction site unseen which I don’t like to do, but as you will learn it’s hard for me to pass a chair by. It was before summer and I guess I got busy with the Lakehouse and pandemic and such, so it has been there since. I assumed I would rip out the whole seat when the time came. I’ve been wanting to replace the chair in my living room and this chair seemed perfect Larger than usual mushroom cap arms and slender backposts reflects its provenance as a transitional production chair which dates it to Circa 1874. The rockers have been secured with metal screws at some point and the finish shows some wear in places. Finish doesn’t seem original but old. Any decal has been covered over but there is a “6” stamped on the back of the upper most slat. But here is the surprise. When I went to remove the old cushion I noticed that it was stuffed with horsehair! Allison’s reaction, “ewww gross!” Not sure I totally disagree. The Shakers did sell cushion chairs to the outside world, but I have never seen one before. I have to believe this one is original. So I am going to leave it and tape over it. I will share my progress. Maybe then I can get around to all the cool things I like about the Shakers and their furniture.