For Sale: Hobbit-y Stick Chair in Mahogany

This chair is based off a couple chairs I built a few years ago, which were based off the chairs I built for my two kids, which were based off a chair that Bilbo Baggins briefly sits in during “The Fellowship of the Ring.”

I haven’t watched the movie in ages, but I remember the arms of Bilbo’s chair were different, the short sticks were turned spindles, and the legs were different – maybe a decorative groove. And I can’t recall what the undercarriage looked like. 

But other than those tiny details, this is an exact replica.

This chair is made of mahogany that is at least 70 years old. I bought it from Midwest Woodworking in Norwood when it was going out of business. The wood is gorgeous stuff, light and strong.

The chair is set up for dining. The seat tilts about 3°, the back tilts another 12°. The seat is 16” off the floor, which makes it comfortable for a wide range of sitters. The seat is a single wide plank of mahogany (that I had to rip down to make the seat – amazing!). All the housed joints are assembled with hide glue and ash wedges so that the chair can be repaired long in the future. 

The finish is super blonde shellac with a thin coat of black wax, which tones down the red and accentuates the wood’s pores.

As mentioned above, the mahogany is straight and strong. But because there are no stretchers, I recommend this chair for sitters less than 220 lbs. I’m being over-cautious. (Also, if a leg ever snaps on any of my chairs, I’ll repair it free of charge.)

Purchasing the Chair

We’re selling this chair via a silent auction. If you wish to buy the chair, send an email to lapdrawing@lostartpress.com before 3 p.m. (Eastern) on Tuesday, May 28. Please use the subject line: “Hobbity Chair.” 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

P.S. Plans for this chair will be in the second issue of The Stick Chair Journal. Also, Kale and I are working together on a second Hobbit-y chair in the same gorgeous mahogany. It will be up for sale in a week or so.

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, and Ash and Elm 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!