These handmade Windsor chairs are unlike the factory made ones
that you may have seen in furniture stores. There is a reason that handmade
Windsors from the 18th and early 19th centuries are still found in antique
shops. It is not because they were pampered front parlor furniture. They were
usually every day kitchen chairs that saw rough use. They survived because they
were designed to meet the stresses that a chair must face.
The first step in the design is the materials used in the
chairs. You will almost always find these chairs coated with paint. This was
done to hide the different materials used in the manufacture of the chairs.
A thick piece of softwood was used for the seat. This is the
heart of a Windsor. Pine or other softwoods were used because they carve easily
and can be shaped into comfortable seats.
The legs are made from maple which turns well and wears well on
stone floors. I turn my own legs and stretchers so you can choose a favorite
design.
The hoops and spindles are oak or ash which are strong and
supple. They bend well and can be carved into pencil thin spindles. The
spindles are hand shaped using a draw knife, a spoke shave and a shave horse
The next step is to put the chair together so that it will
withstand the stresses put on it. The legs, stretchers and seat are all put
together in tension. The stretchers push the legs apart, jamming them firmly
into the seat. The legs are through tenoned and wedged in the seat. Glue is
really superfluous in these chairs (although I use glue). The backs are
similarly designed with parts in tension and with through wedged tenons.
The assembled chairs are functional designs, but the flowing
curves are beautiful, too. They invite the hand and the eye to explore closer.
You'll be proud to have these chairs in your home and to pass on to the next
generation.
These chairs are shown in dark green milk paint. Traditionally
milk paint was used since it wears well. Antiques usually have many layers of
different colors that peek through as the sharp edges wear. I duplicate this
beautiful effect by painting the first coat with a contrasting color (Red in
this case) and then carefully sanding the sharp edges to simulate a few years
of wear.
Hoop back chairs - $400
Sack Back Chairs - $500
Contact me and we can design the exact chair to fit. I will give
you an estimate when we finalize the design. My normal practice is half payment
then, with the remainder due upon your acceptance.
You can pay through Pay Pal and use your credit card if you are
a member of Pay Pal. If you are not yet a member, you can sign up when you
place your order. I also accept checks or money orders.
Call and we'll design a special chair for you.
To order your chair, or if you have a question, contact me
at:
georgew@rmi.net
