What sets hand made Windsor chairs apart for most every other chair is how comfortable they are. Many factors affect overall comfort, but Windsor chair seats were designed to be sat in all day without cushions and padding. The seats of these chairs are highly sculpted,with deep saddles to spread your weight across the entire
It takes at least two, and up to four, complete days to make just one chair, depending on the style. Splitting, shaving, and turning the numerous parts takes a sizable amount of time, and steam bent components must be left to dry for at least a few days, and up to two weeks for curved
I have started to build a set of four bow back Windsor side chairs. They are also known as New York City side chairs, where they style was first popularized in the 18th century. Splitting the rear spindles, braces, and bow from the half ton red oak log is done with sledge hammers, wedges, and
Here is the finished piece. The cherry wood has received a coat of orange de-waxed shellac to enrich the colour and depth of the wood then the entire piece was finished in a clear waterborne topcoat. All that remains is to rub it down and then polish it with furniture wax. Over time, the contrast
Here are some images of the legs for the cherry Queen Anne hall table, as well as initial work on the faux central linen runner sculpted from maple. The legs have been made in the traditional manner, first cutting them to shape and then using hand planes, a spoke shave, chisels, and scrapers to smooth
This cherry Queen Anne hall table will have a faux central linen runner sculpted from maple. It stands 29” high, 15 inches deep, and 30” long. I have always liked elements of furniture made during the federal period and the late 18th century, as well as much of the art from the contemporaneous neo-classical period.