I just completed this large comb-back chair in ash and elm and am selling it via a silent auction (details below). The chair is set up for dining and keyboarding, with its back tilted at 13° and the seat tilted at 2°.
This chair is probably the tallest comb-back I’ve made in years (if not ever). The overall height is 41”. The seat height is 16-3/4”, making it comfortable for a wide variety of sitters (both tall and short).
The seat and undercarriage are elm. I lucked into some dead-straight elm for the legs and stretchers. Plus some typically squirrelly grain elm for the seat, a sturdy combination. The top part of the chair is all black ash. Ash and elm both have a complementary iridescence. As these woods age, their color becomes quite similar.
Like all my chairs, the joints are assembled with animal glue (so the chair can be easily repaired 200 years in the future if needed), plus straight-grain wedges. The chair is finished with soft wax, which is non-toxic and easy to repair (just add more soft wax).
This chair is a bit special because it’s the second chair that my daughter Katherine worked on with me. She did most of the arm shaping and helped with most of the other tasks. The chair is signed by both of us.
Purchasing the Chair
If you wish to buy the chair, send an email to lapdrawing@lostartpress.com before 3 p.m. (Eastern) on Friday, May 17. Please use the subject line: “Comb-back.” In the email please include your:
- Bid.
- U.S. shipping address
- Daytime phone number (this is for the trucking quote only)
The highest bid wins. If you are the “winner,” the chair can be picked up at our storefront. Or we will happily crate it and ship it to your door. (I’m sorry but the chair cannot be shipped outside the U.S.) The reserve price is $500. Shipping and crating is included in your winning bid (with no additional charges whatsoever).
— Christopher Schwarz
Editor’s note: The “bulk reply” plugin on Chrome has stopped working, and I cannot find a replacement on any of my browsers. So if you don’t hear from me (Fitz) by the end of the day on the deadline day, I’m afraid you are not the winner (this applies also to the recent Irish chair). I’m sorry I haven’t time to send individual responses to the many entrants who did not win. If I did, it would read: “Thank you for your interest, and stay tuned – Chris is making more chairs, and there will be other opportunities.” Which is true in perpetuity!
Hi Chris, I do like your chairs. In your Stick Chair book (still on my to purchase list), do you have versions that don’t have the arm rests? I ask because at some point I want to make a set for our kitchen table and the arms may be a bit too much for a set of 4 or 6 chairs around a table. Do you have thoughts on if that is an issue or not? Many thanks. Joe
“The Anarchist’s Design Book” (a free download) has two backstools that don’t have arms.
Beautiful chair. You nailed the symmetry from the top view
Wow! That chair looks fantastic. The wood grain is just so BOLD. Who needs paint when you have wood like that.
That’s beautiful! Quick question on the design of the shoe–the line on the end…made with Crucible engraver, chisel, or? It’s a very cool feature.
Jake
It’s a simple bead. The quirk is sawn with a backsaw. Most of the rounding is done with a chisel. Then a little fine sandpaper to smooth it out. Next time I make one we’ll film the process.
It looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it out…