This comb-back stick chair is built entirely in American red elm, with the seat, arm and comb made from figured red elm, some of the most difficult wood I have ever saddled.
The chair is raked back for lounging, reading or sitting by the fire. The chair’s features heavily shaped arms, tapered octagonal stretchers and slightly proud and burnished tenons throughout.
I’m offering it for sale via a silent auction. The highest bid includes crating and shipping the chair to your door anywhere in the lower 48 states of the U.S. With no additional fees or charges. Details on the sale are at the bottom of this entry. First, some notes about the chair.
The chair is made from red elm, which is my favorite wood for chairmaking. The wood is strong, fairly lightweight and has a difficult interlocked grain that prevents the parts from ever splitting. The chair’s sticks are shaved and left octagonal. All the tenons are cut slightly proud and burnished. All the chair’s joints are assembled with animal glue, which is reversible, and wedged with hickory wedges selected for arrow-straight grain.
The seat is tilted 6.6°, with the chair’s back tilted 28° off the seat. The seat is 16-3/4” off the floor, making it comfortable for most sitters. The chair is 38-3/4” tall overall.
The chair is finished with a soft wax finish that I make here in our workshop. It offers a low lustre and looks better the more you use the chair. The finish isn’t terribly durable, but it is easily repaired (just add more soft wax).
Like all my chairs, I make them as best I can, but most of the work is by hand. So you will find an occasional stray tool mark or tiny imperfection. These are not left intentionally, but they are the result of hand work.
How to Buy the Chair
The chair is being sold via a silent auction. If you wish to buy the chair, send your bid via email to lapdrawing@lostartpress.com before 3 p.m. (Eastern) on Wednesday, April 24. Please use the subject line: “Elm Chair.” The opening bid is $500. In the email please include your:
- Bid
- U.S. shipping address
- Daytime phone number (this is for the trucking quote only)
If you are the highest bidder, the chair will be shipped to your door. The price includes the crate and all shipping charges. Alternatively, the chair can be picked up at our storefront. (I’m sorry but the chair cannot be shipped outside the U.S.)
— Christopher Schwarz
“This comb-back stick chair is built entirely in American red elm….”
OR?
“The chair is made from red maple…”
Assuming the first, by the looks of it, which is a gorgeous wood.
Respectfully,
Merle
Sorry. Typo. It is all red elm except for the hickory wedges.
That is a beautiful piece.
Is this chair made entirely of red elm?
Yes. Typo. It is all red elm except for the hickory wedges.
I love those hands! I’m getting ready to start on a chair with wood I bought from Shea Alexander. I’m going to do my best to copy them.
She’s a real beauty!
I was wondering, with all the very very nice chairs you’ve built and posted for sale was there ever a chair Lucy said, “Nope. You can’t sell that one.”