One of the many nice details of the forthcoming “The Stick Chair Book” are the printed “endsheets.” For those of you unfamiliar with the term, endsheets are the papers that are glued to the inside and back cover and the interior pages of the book.
Endsheets can be plain, patterned or printed with cool stuff. Adding printing to your endsheets adds expense, of course. But because I have done all the layout and photography for this book (and most of the illustrations), I have decided to throw some money into making some interesting endsheets.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always liked the family tree posters that explore rock ‘n’ roll and other forms of music. And I wanted to do one on chair forms. So I spent about a week sketching out a draft and then asked several furniture history nerds to poke holes in my tree.
Finally, I asked Welsh artist Lee John Phillips to draw the family tree for the endsheets. I was first introduced to Lee’s work by Chris Williams, and I quickly became a huge fan, especially of his quixotic Shed Project. Lee has been working on the drawings off and on for about a month, and he is getting near the end.
Things are looking very cool. So cool, in fact, that I might do a stupid thing and make some letterpress posters of the family tree. (I mean, it has been months since I’ve flushed good money down the potty.)
When we’re done, I’ll show you the whole thing here. Until then, here are some in-process details.
A couple caveats:
- This is a family tree of chair forms (backstools, thrown chairs, ladderbacks), and not chair styles (Chippendale, French Provincial, Late Jerry Style).
- The colors and images shown here are not finished. So that’s why they aren’t consistent.
— Christopher Schwarz
I like it. Is chair #1 a rock and chair #2 a log?
Chair 1 is mom’s lap.
I’ve heard of making a chair from a tree, but this?
Will be an interesting addition to my poster collection
Shut up and take my money!
I hope there will be a branch for the seat of ease, the privy, loo, John, crapper.
Oh, thrown chairs? I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a Bobby Knight reference on this blog.
Very cool! Can’t wait to see it in all its glory!
Very cool, Christopher! I like them!
I’m really looking forward to your new book!
Thanks & Enjoy!
Thanks for the link to Lee John Phillips. He seems like a perfect match. I’m inspired to dig up my old Rapidograph pens! I’d prefer a bandana with his artwork. I’ve run out of wall space for posters.
Egads. Twenty-nine looks like an Adirondack chair. Shirley, the Adirondack chair is a red-leafed step shrub?!?
And, no, I don’t know who Shirley is.
That is the first Adirondack. A very important branch on the tree when it comes to “boarded furniture.”
The poster is a great idea even though I have enough posters and prints to fill an abandoned subway!
A very neglected variety of chairs are the ones used in movies that break apart when busted over someone’s head. Designed to fail under a certain condition. It’s just amazing.
These would make awesome stickers.
Good idea. The drawings look great!
This has got my credit card quivering.
These endpapers are absolutely wonderful. I first became interested in Lost Art Press when I heard that you produce books here in the States, from start to finish. That alone was enough to hook me. But once I saw a few of your titles, my regard for you went through the roof. The sheer delight in book making that your diverse, artful book designs express — not only through such handsome commissioned work by artists, but through your selection of particular papers, fonts, and jacket designs — have enriched my life. And I haven’t even mentioned your titles’ educational, inspiring, and mind-expanding content. I am ridiculously honored to count myself among your authors. So grateful for all that you do.
This poster (if produced) would find a cherished spot awaiting it. So, hell yes to that idea!
Well that’s one customer!
Chris, I would LOVE to have the endsheets described. I am wholly aware of my privilege when I say this, but I’d be happy to pay for them.
” But because I have done all the layout and photography for this book (and most of the illustrations)”
You are a really good photographer and illustrator and obviously you have an incredible amount of experience with layout…So what gives? You had better be paying yourself for those skills! I say that in great earnest. The products you provide for us nerdy consumers are incredibly superior to that of any of the competition and you deserve it!