Last year, Concord resident and jewelry maker Kythryne Aisling bought this Shaker spinning wheel from Hilltop Consignments in Pembroke.
According to Aisling, the wheel was built at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community in Maine sometime between 1806 and 1814. Certain indicators helped narrow down the date. For example, the bearings where made from copper pennies – a practice that was done before 1860 and the wheel was initialed by a trustee member that served the community during the 1806 to 1814 timeframe.
Shortly after her purchase, Aisling restored the wheel to full working condition. Although it was originally built to spin flax, Aisling uses it to spin silk cords for jewelry and to make fine wool yarns for knitting. See her work at wyrdingstudios.com.
