[{"id":262360563775,"handle":"all-books-1","title":"All Books","updated_at":"2024-12-12T04:25:04-05:00","body_html":"","published_at":"2021-11-06T08:19:16-04:00","sort_order":"created-desc","template_suffix":"","disjunctive":false,"rules":[{"column":"type","relation":"equals","condition":"Book"}],"published_scope":"global"},{"id":14049653,"handle":"books","title":"Books","updated_at":"2024-12-12T04:25:04-05:00","body_html":"All books from Lost Art Press are produced entirely in the United States. We use acid-free paper and tough bindings – our books's signatures are sewn and glued for durability whenever physically possible.","published_at":"2013-12-16T11:31:00-05:00","sort_order":"manual","template_suffix":null,"disjunctive":false,"rules":[{"column":"type","relation":"equals","condition":"Book"}],"published_scope":"global"},{"id":158051598399,"handle":"chairmaking","title":"Chairmaking","updated_at":"2024-12-12T03:10:03-05:00","body_html":"","published_at":"2020-02-02T19:22:22-05:00","sort_order":"best-selling","template_suffix":"","disjunctive":false,"rules":[{"column":"tag","relation":"equals","condition":"Chairmaking"}],"published_scope":"global"},{"id":265756246079,"handle":"introduction-to-stick-chairs","updated_at":"2024-12-12T02:55:20-05:00","published_at":"2022-10-26T13:40:59-04:00","sort_order":"created","template_suffix":"","published_scope":"global","title":"Introduction to Stick Chairs","body_html":"\u003cp\u003eStick chairs are folk furniture that’s made by amateur woodworkers for their own use – or to sell to neighbors in their village. Unlike the formal chairs made by professional artisans (or in a factory) in the cities, stick chairs are built using local materials with simple joints and are not connected to a particular furniture style (like Queen Anne) or a period in time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThey are also dang comfortable at the dinner table or by the fireside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHere at Lost Art Press, we are dedicated to teaching people about stick chairs. We think this furniture form is a great way for all woodworkers – regardless of skill – to learn chairmaking without a lot of specialty tools or costly equipment (such as a shavehorse, steambox or lathe).\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe following is a little bit of history and information about stick chairs and how to get started building them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Comb-back-anatomy_480x480.jpg?v=1666806012\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Comb-back-anatomy_480x480.jpg?v=1666806012\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a Stick Chair?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe term “stick chair” has been applied to lots of different kinds of furniture through the centuries, including ladderbacks, rustic willow furniture and Windsor chairs. Our definition of it is simple. A stick chair begins with a plank of wood for the seat. All the remaining parts, such as the legs, sticks and arms are connected to the seat with round – not square – joinery. Stick chairs are made with simple tools and readily available (sometimes found) materials. And finally – this is important – stick chairs are not mass-manufactured. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Chair-2-Laws-of-Hywel-Dda_480x480.jpg?v=1666806203\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Chair-2-Laws-of-Hywel-Dda_480x480.jpg?v=1666806203\" data-mce-style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere Did Stick Chairs Come From?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost cultures have some sort of seating furniture that qualifies as a stick chair, though these folk pieces have long been nearly invisible to furniture scholars, auction houses and collectors. In the West, stick chairs appear in almost every culture, though they seem to be more common in cultures that had contact with the Vikings (793-1066 AD). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first known image of a stick chair (above) comes from Wales, a country with a long history of making this kind of chair. The “Laws of Hywel Dda,” a Welsh book of laws from the late 12th or middle 13th century, shows a judge sitting on a chair that clearly has a plank seat with legs and uprights mortised into the seat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/red_windsor_IMG_2009_480x480.jpg?v=1666806345\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCenturies later, the similar Windsor chair form (shown above) emerged in England in the early part of the 18th century, according to Robert F. Parrott’s 2010 research in Regional Furniture, Vol. XXIV. Windsor chairs share a lot in common with Windsor chairs, especially in the way their parts are joined together. But there are important differences.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWindsor chairs are typically made by professional chairmakers or in a factory – not by amateurs. Though there are “folk Windsors” out there that were made by amateurs (and could easily be called stick chairs) they are somewhat rare. Many woodworkers like to think of stick chairs as “primitive Windsors,” but that’s a disservice to stick chairs as they have their own distinct (and longer) history and design vocabulary. (You wouldn’t call a Native American a “Primitive American” would you?)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhile some 20th-century historians (especially Christopher Gilbert and Victor Chinnery) paid attention to these forms, the first book dedicated to stick chairs is “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\"\u003eWelsh Stick Chairs\u003c\/a\u003e” by John Brown (1932-2008).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/JB-in-workshop_480x480.jpg?v=1666806590\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/JB-in-workshop_480x480.jpg?v=1666806590\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Brown \u0026amp; His Stick Chairs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn Brown (aka JB) self-published “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\"\u003eWelsh Stick Chairs\u003c\/a\u003e” in 1990 to shine a light on the Welsh form of this chair. The book, now back in print through Lost Art Press, also inspired thousands of budding chairmakers worldwide to take up the tools and make these chairs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first half of “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\"\u003eWelsh Stick Chairs\u003c\/a\u003e” is the tale of how JB encountered the form, learned to make chairs and began researching them. The second half of the book is a pictorial essay showing JB making one of his chairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/JB-cardigan-chair_480x480.jpg?v=1666806710\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/JB-cardigan-chair_480x480.jpg?v=1666806710\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLike many groundbreaking books, “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\"\u003eWelsh Stick Chairs\u003c\/a\u003e” has its flaws. The chair that JB builds in the book isn’t really all that Welsh, as shown above (it has a steam-bent arm, for starters). And the construction information is purposely light on details. JB wanted you to have to work for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite these shortcomings, “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/welsh-stick-chairs-by-john-brown\"\u003eWelsh Stick Chairs\u003c\/a\u003e” is still a classic. JB’s fantastic writing captures exactly why these chairs are so important and wonderful. And the photos and drawings of historical chairs will begin to unlock your understanding of the form. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso, it’s a book you can read in an afternoon that just might change the course of your life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucky for us, JB showed Welshman \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.welshstickchairs.com\/\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.welshstickchairs.com\/\"\u003eChristopher Williams\u003c\/a\u003e how to build these chairs. And Chris worked with JB for many years, soaking up both JB’s techniques and philosophy. After JB’s death in 2008, Chris has carried forward as a professional chairmaker, improving the construction, design and finish of the chairs he makes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHe also wrote a book about his time with JB that offers a much deeper exploration of the form (and JB himself).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Heather_Birnie_Chris_Williams_Lost_Art_Press_15_480x480.jpg?v=1666806948\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/Heather_Birnie_Chris_Williams_Lost_Art_Press_15_480x480.jpg?v=1666806948\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Williams \u0026amp; the Modern Welsh Stick Chair\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/good-work-the-chairmaking-life-of-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/good-work-the-chairmaking-life-of-john-brown\"\u003eGood Work: The Chairmaking Life of John Brown\u003c\/a\u003e” by Chris Williams explores the chairmaking activity of JB as experienced firsthand by Williams. The book includes the best essays that JB wrote about chairmaking for \u003cem\u003eGood Woodworking\u003c\/em\u003e magazine in the U.K. Plus it includes essays on JB written by his editor, former wife, nephew and one of his sons. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll in all, it is a faithful portrait of an amazing (and sometimes difficult) man. But it is also a deep and inspiring story of Williams’s love for the craft and this form of furniture. It is a perfect foil to “Welsh Stick Chairs” and answers many of the questions JB left unanswered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChairmakers will also rejoice at Williams’s far more detailed description of how he and JB made chairs for customers, including many of the improvements to the construction process. Also amazing is how far Williams has pushed the form forward by both looking back at the past and refusing to compromise on the craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePut together, “Welsh Stick Chairs” and “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/good-work-the-chairmaking-life-of-john-brown\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/good-work-the-chairmaking-life-of-john-brown\"\u003eGood Work: The Chairmaking Life of John Brown\u003c\/a\u003e” are the primary reasons anyone is even talking about or building stick chairs today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite their love for making stick chairs, there is still a voice that needs to be heard – that of the old chairs. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/tim-bowen-CW-inspect-chair-DSC01207_480x480.jpg?v=1666807128\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTim \u0026amp; Betsan Bowen – the Antique Experts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnother fantastic source of information and inspiration comes from the book: “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/the-welsh-stick-chair-a-visual-record\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/the-welsh-stick-chair-a-visual-record\"\u003eThe Welsh Stick Chair: A Visual Record\u003c\/a\u003e” by Tim and Betsan Bowen. This gorgeously photographed book shows many of the details and forms of 31 old chairs. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Bowens have studied and handled hundreds of Welsh stick chairs through their business, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/timbowenantiques.co.uk\/\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/timbowenantiques.co.uk\/\"\u003eTim Bowen Antiques\u003c\/a\u003e in Wales. The Bowens are generous with their knowledge of these chairs and this small volume will kickstart your eye when it comes to chair design – what looks good and why.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the most important things you’ll learn about stick chairs is that they are a product of their environment. It’s difficult (if not impossible) to make one of these chairs in American wood. So what do you do if you don’t live in Wales or another country that is rife with these chairs? \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStick Chairs in America\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn North America, Windsor chairs have always been more popular than the humble stick chair form. Yet there were many American builders who were inspired by John Brown and Christopher Williams and have adapted the form to American woods. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChristopher Schwarz first became entranced by the form in the late 1990s after reading John Brown’s columns in Good Woodworking magazine. He first learned to make stick chairs in 2003-2004 from David Fleming, a chairmaker in Cobden, Ontario, and Don Weber, a Welsh chairmaker who now lives in Kentucky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/CS-bog-oak2-ele-IMG_1324_480x480.jpg?v=1666807321\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFrom there, Schwarz developed techniques and designs that were suitable for making these chairs with American woods. The result is “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/products\/the-stick-chair-book\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/products\/the-stick-chair-book\"\u003eThe Stick Chair Book\u003c\/a\u003e,” a massive how-to book that shows how to use kiln-dried woods and simple tools to build stick chairs. The book includes complete plans for five stick chairs. And \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/full-size-patterns-from-the-stick-chair-book\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/full-size-patterns-from-the-stick-chair-book\"\u003efull-size patterns\u003c\/a\u003e for these chairs are also available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/738001832?h=e9b7d75953\u0026amp;badge=0\u0026amp;autopause=0\u0026amp;player_id=0\u0026amp;app_id=58479\" title=\"Trailer: Build a Stick Chair with Christopher Schwarz\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make this form of chair accessible to visual learners, Schwarz also produced a four-hour video on how to make these chairs titled “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/dvds\/products\/video-build-a-stick-chair\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/dvds\/products\/video-build-a-stick-chair\"\u003eBuild a Stick Chair\u003c\/a\u003e.” And he has launched an annual publication “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/the-stick-chair-journal\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/the-stick-chair-journal\"\u003eThe Stick Chair Journal\u003c\/a\u003e,” which offers more plans and construction information for builders who want to explore new designs and techniques. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/porritt-green-comb-back_480x480.jpg?v=1666807654\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/porritt-green-comb-back_480x480.jpg?v=1666807654\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Porritt, the ‘Belligerent Finisher’\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinally, there is the book “\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/the-belligerent-finisher\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/lostartpress.com\/collections\/books\/products\/the-belligerent-finisher\"\u003eThe Belligerent Finisher\u003c\/a\u003e” by John Porritt. Porritt, a chairmaker and furniture restorer, explains how to attain the aged and well-worn finishes found on so many old and beautiful chairs. Porritt’s methods use simple tools and processes. If you want your chairs to blend in with the antiques in your home, this book is essential reading. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStick Chairs: How They are Made\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost woodworkers are intimidated by the idea of making a chair. The angles, the tools and the special equipment puts the craft of chairmaking out of reach for many. But making a stick chair is a far easier task. Here’s a quick look at how the parts are made using simple bench tools. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/leg-taper-plane-IMG_2455_480x480.jpg?v=1666807767\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Legs \u0026amp; Undercarriage: No Turnings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnlike with Windsor chairs, you don’t need a lathe to make a stick chair. The legs and stretchers start as simple octagons that you make by hand or with a band saw. Then you handplane them to shape with a jack plane. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe jack plane can taper the legs or remove all the corners and create a leg that looks turned (from a distance, at least).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe joinery is generally simple: Straight mortises drilled with an auger, spade or Forstner bit. With tenons made by shaving the wood to shape with a plane or cutting it with an inexpensive plug\/tenon cutter. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/gibson-red-IMG_4713_480x480.jpg?v=1666807842\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Seat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany stick chairs have little or no saddling. So if you cannot afford an adze, scorp or travisher, you can make a very comfortable chair with a flat seat. Simply round over the front edge with a plane. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIf you do want to add some shape to the seat, you can do it using only a travisher and scraper – the saddle is shallow and easy to make with only one specialty tool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/stick-block-plane-at-bottom-of-tenon_480x480.jpg?v=1666808016\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/stick-block-plane-at-bottom-of-tenon_480x480.jpg?v=1666808016\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Sticks are Shaved\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith Windsor chairs, the spindles (aka the sticks) are made on a lathe or by shaving them with a drawknife at a shaving horse. Making the sticks for stick chairs is much less equipment-intensive. The sticks are shaved with a jack plane and a block plane against a simple stop in a vise. No need for a drawknife, spokeshave and shavehorse. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe mortises for the sticks are made with a simple 5\/8” drill bit. The tenons can be made with a cheap plug\/tenon cutter, or they can be shaved to size using a plane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/allarmbowjoinery_480x480.jpg?v=1666808216\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Arm: No Bending Needed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany Windsor chairs have steam-bent arms. Setting up a shop to do steam-bending is an investment in time, space and money. And it takes some practice (and the right wood) to do it successfully and consistently. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStick chairs don’t generally use steam-bent components. The arms are either branches that grew in a curve (a common feature on the best Welsh chairs), or they are cut from flat, dry stock and laminated together to produce a basic kind of plywood.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese laminated arms can be graceful, beautiful and strong. And they offer lots of opportunities to personalize the chair with different hands. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/comb-drill-two-center-holes-IMG_2238_480x480.jpg?v=1666808296\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0306\/3197\/files\/comb-drill-two-center-holes-IMG_2238_480x480.jpg?v=1666808296\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Comb: Again, No Bending\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe combs for stick chairs are usually cut from solid material and shaped with saws, planes and spokeshaves. No steam box needed. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinishes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost Windsor chairs are painted to conceal the fact that several species of wood were used in their construction. Stick chairs can be made out of one species – such as oak – and then painted or coated with a clear finish. With stick chairs the finish is your call, and any approach is correct. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo Two Chairs Alike\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost of all, stick chairs are never tiresome to build because no two should come out identical in the end. The materials on hand help guide both the construction process and the chair’s decorative details. Plus, there aren’t many well-defined forms of stick chairs like there are with Windsor chairs (sack back, continuous arm, fanback etc.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStick chairs have a bit of wildness to them. And every one of them should be a little different from its cousins.\u003c\/p\u003e"},{"id":13382609,"handle":"frontpage","updated_at":"2024-12-12T04:25:16-05:00","published_at":"2013-11-26T15:57:00-05:00","sort_order":"created-desc","template_suffix":null,"published_scope":"global","title":"New Products","body_html":""}]
“Good Work: The Chairmaking Life of John Brown” by Christopher Williams is the first biography of one of the most influential chairmakers and writers of the 20th century: Welshman John Brown.
The book’s title of “Good Work” was an expression John Brown used to describe a noble act or thing. He once mused he wanted to create a “Good Work” seal that could be applied to truly beautiful and handmade goods – like the “Good Housekeeping” seal of approval.
“Good Work” is the kind of woodworking book we live for at Lost Art Press. It’s not about offering you plans, jigs or techniques per se. Its aim instead is to challenge the way you look at woodworking through the lens of one of its most important 20th century figures. And though this appears to be a book on chairmaking, it’s much more. Anyone who is interested in handwork, vernacular furniture, workshop philosophy or iconoclastic characters will enjoy “Good Work.”
Author Chris Williams spent about a decade with John Brown in Wales, building Welsh chairs and pushing this vernacular form further and further. This book recounts their work together, from the first day that Chris nervously called John Brown until the day his mentor died in 2008.
Alongside that fascinating story of loyalty, hard work and eventually grief, “Good Work” offers essays from the people directly involved in John Brown’s life as a chairmaker. Nick Gibbs, his editor from Good Woodworking magazine; Anne Sears, John Brown’s second wife; David Sears, his nephew; and Matty Sears, one of his sons who is now a toolmaker, all offer their views of John Brown and his work.
“Good Work” also allows John Brown (sometimes called JB) to speak for himself. We purchased the rights to reprint 19 of the man’s best columns from Good Woodworking, the ones that inspired devotion, provoked anger or caused people to change their lives.
Chris then proceeds to show you how he and JB built chairs during the later years together. These methods are different than what John Brown showed in his book “Welsh Stick Chairs.” And Chris goes into detail that hasn’t been published before. Chris covers the particular tools that JB preferred and gives you more than enough information to build a beautiful Welsh stick chair. But, just to be clear, there are no dimensioned plans included in this book.
To honor his mentor’s wishes, Chris instead shows you how to build a chair the way John Brown showed people to build a chair. Yes, there are dimensions. Techniques are clearly and cleverly explained. But there are some things left for you to work out – things that will make your chair your own – not just a copy.
The 208-page full-color book is also filled with historical photographs (many never published before) and beautiful linocut illustrations by Molly Brown, one of JB’s daughters. The book is printed on heavy coated paper with a matte finish to make it easy to read. The book’s pages are sewn, glued and taped – then covered in heavy boards and cotton cloth – to create a book that will last for generations. And the whole package is wrapped in a durable tear-resistant laminated dust jacket, which features linocut illustrations by Molly Brown. The entire book is produced and printed in the United States.
Table of Contents
Preface by Nick Gibbs vii
1: Editor's Note by Christopher Schwarz 1 2: An Introduction to Wales 4 3: What Makes a Welsh Stick Chair? 10 4: My Life with John Brown 24 5: John Brown, in His Own Words 54 6: The Pace of His Grandmother's Heartbeat by Anne Sears 126 7: A Day in the Life of Chairman Brown by David Sears 130 8: A Family of Makers by Matty Sears 134 9: John Brown's Tool Kit 140 10: Construction of a Chair 148 11: The Throne 170 12: Conclusion 176 13: The Last Chair 182
About the Author
Chris Williams is a chairmaker who lives and works in rural West Wales. A professional woodworker since the age of 16, he completed his City & Guilds training in carpentry and joinery. Since finishing his apprenticeship in 1989 he has continued to work with wood, starting out in a joinery workshop then to general carpentry, woodland management, hedgelaying and furniture restoration, all to help subsidise his income as a modern-day craftsman. He first encountered John Brown in the early 1990s through John Brown's cult book "Welsh Stick Chairs," but it would be several years before he met him in the flesh. After spending a decade learning from John Brown and his philosophical approach to chairmaking, Chris has gone on to make hundreds of chairs as well as continuing the legacy of his late friend and mentor John Brown, who died in 2008. Chris continues to evolve this chair form, using traditional hand tools and local Welsh timber whilst also celebrating the idiosyncrasy of the traditional Welsh stick chairs by making each chair uniquely individual. He continues to ply his craft from the small village of Llanybri where he shares his home with his partner, Claire, and four children.
You can read more about Chris in our full profile.