Shaker Enfield, CT Community Tilter Chair with unfinished seat

Shaker Enfield, CT Community Tilter Chair with unfinished seat. This is a classic Enfield, CT chair with elongated pommels and 3 bold back slats the topmost secured at scribe marks by wooden pins.  The chair retains its original stain and varnish finish. The tilters are fully functional with original canvas thread.   The story behind this chair is that it was owned by an old picker named Ed Thomson, affectionately known as "Shaker Ed." Shaker Ed was from the area and worked for the Shakers during the last days of the Enfield Community (1923) as well as after the property was sold. During that time he received many Shaker items in payment for his work. But what really makes this chair unique is the unfinished seat.  It is rare to find an unfinished piece of Shaker work, possibly attributable to order they tried to keep in their lives.  The story goes that the first original taped seat on this chair was removed in the mid 1800's and that the Shaker's were in the process of replacing it with this linen and horsehair seat when the work for some reason stopped.  However, upon further examination there is more to this story.  This chair is actually from Mount Lebanon as can be determined by a close examination of the finials and back slats.  Many Enfield, CT chairs were actually made in Mount Lebanon, the Shaker community that produced the most chairs.  The bottom linen covering intact as is the horsehair which is stitched into the seat. The top covering of the linen is present and stitched in front but never finished. This chair is an amazing find! Please contact us with any questions or for additional pictures.