Heirloom Windsor Chairs
Traditionally crafted chairs that tell a rich story
Handcrafted Windsors
Windsor chairs have two centuries of rich history and they remain a favorite throughout the world, cherished for their delicate appearance, robust construction, and artistic design.
Although mass-produced chairs look similar from a distance, they are stripped of life, sterilized in their design, and carelessly constructed. A handcrafted Windsor chair will continue to remain superior for several reasons:
Deeply carved seats are shaped and smoothed by hand to a level of detail that can’t be reproduced by machinery
Parts are riven from logs rather than sawn from boards, increasing strength while allowing parts to flex for comfort
Careful joinery where moisture levels are manipulated to ensure a tight fit
You know the maker and support the local community.
Lifetime Guarantee
I take pride in the products that leave my shop. By carefully shaping each part, manipulating moisture levels, and ensuring every joint is a tight fit, I’m confident that the my chairs will last a lifetime. In light of that, I will repair or replace any joinery or parts that become loose or break under normal use for no charge.
it starts with a log.
Traditional chairmaking begins before logs are sawn into boards. This is because when wood is freshly cut, called “green” wood, it has a high water content and can be split and shaped with hand tools much more easily than dried boards. A log for chairmaking must be straight and free of knots, which allows the wood to rive easily and improves its strength and bending ability.
Bending, shaping, joining.
After parts are split from the log, I shape them with the draw knife and lathe. I then steam bend components before letting them dry. The seat is hand carved with the scorp and travisher, legs turned and fitted to the seat, and spindles shaped with the drawknife and spokeshave. The entire process is an intimate journey that takes a log and turns it into something beautiful, functional, and comfortable.
You are also welcome to come visit my shop and learn more about the time-honored techniques to make a chair!