Lost Art Press

The Next Chair

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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I have sworn off chairmaking for a couple months as I finish up some cabinet jobs and four teaching gigs overseas. But when August rolls around, this chair and I are going to have a serious conversation.

I stumbled on a pair of them at Colonial Homestead in Millersburg, Ohio. The only information about them on the label was they were from New England and were likely made between 1790-1820.

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To my eye, they look remarkably modern. I love that the rake of the spindles and legs are in opposition to each other. The armbow, of course, is also a piece of work. It’s laminated from two pieces – both steambent as far as I could tell.

While I would love to make a faithful copy of this chair, I don’t think that’s a good starting point. The seat is incredibly small. I do not have a reputation for a large posterior. In fact, several rescue parties have been dispatched to find my missing butt. My wife often jokes that when we become rich she will pay for implants for me.

But when I sat in the chair I felt like a cork in a wine bottle.

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So the seat has to be a bit wider. Aside from that change, however, the chair is fairly comfortable and straightforward to build. I might omit the bead detail on the front posts. I might not. Because of the thick paint on the chair, it was impossible to determine the wood species that were used (likely pine for the seat). So I’ll just have to guess based on historical examples.

I haven’t built a low-back chair for many years. Should be fun.

But first, dovetails.

— Christopher Schwarz

Nearing the End of ‘The Book of Plates’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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Final notice: We have fewer than 100 copies of “The Book of Plates” left in stock. When it is sold out, it will be gone forever. The book is at the almost-losing-money price of $49.

If you live outside the United States, you can buy the book at this rock-bottom price at Lee Valley, which is also closing out its stock. Link here. Highland Woodworking also has it for $49.

For those of you who have purchased the book, thank you for helping us clear out this title, which was gobbling up storage fees at our warehouse because it is so massive.

— Christopher Schwarz

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Never be the Same

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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Today I dropped Chris Williams off at the airport for his journey home to Wales, and I cannot believe how quickly the last three weeks have rushed by.

In addition to Chris teaching two classes on making Welsh stick chairs, Chris and I spent a lot of time working on his forthcoming book, “The Life & Work of John Brown.” The book has – like all books – taken some hard left turns as it germinated below the soil. And Chris and I have spent many evenings sorting out the important chapters.

But the biggest discussion has been over whether or not to include detailed plans of a chair in the book.

After much thought, Chris concluded that adding plans to the book would go against the spirit of how John Brown made chairs during his life (and how Chris makes chairs now). John Brown and Chris contend that no two Welsh stick chairs should ever be identical. Instead, each chair should be built to suit the materials at hand, the skills of the maker and the tools available.

Don’t worry. You’ll be able to build a Welsh stick chair after reading Chris’s book. But your chair will start from a personal place instead of from an established pattern.

That’s how Chris built his first chair. He’d read John Brown’s “Welsh Stick Chairs,” and then figured out his own way by observing the chairs in John Brown’s book.

It’s not an easy way to make a chair. But it is satisfying. I built my first chair in a class, but my second chair went in a different direction than the first one. Even today I don’t expect my chairs to end up how I envision them in my mind or on paper. Each has a life of its own.

Chris tries to imbue his classes with the same spirit. His students were encouraged to go their own direction with their chairs. There are, of course, limits to what you can do during five days. But I was impressed by how some students took this idea to heart.

All of the chairs in the classes had four back sticks, but that’s where the similarities ended.

In the real world, Welsh stick chairs have enormous variations – in the number of back sticks (three sticks up to 11 or so). The shape of the seat (circle, rectangle, D-shaped etc). The construction of the arm. The undercarriage (if there even is an undercarriage). The comb. Plus the length of all the long stocks and short sticks, and the rake and splay of every component.

So when you look at Chris’s chair, or mine, or one of the thousands being built, know that your chair shouldn’t look like that. Exactly. Or at all. But it should look Welsh. And that is something you have to develop an eye for and will definitely be covered in Chris’s book.

— Christopher Schwarz

P.S. When will this book be out? Chris plans to have the writing done this fall. I’ll design it in November and December. And we hope it will be in your hands in February or March 2020.

New at Core77: Anarchism & Design

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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Long-time readers of this blog probably saw this one coming. My June column at Core77 is about how I mix my anarchism with my design work. It’s a summation of how I work, with examples from projects you might be familiar with.

So come for the anarchism; stay for the trolling.

The column is free to read – click here to dive in.

— Christopher Schwarz

The Storefront is Open this Saturday (June 8), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Posted on by fitz

As on every second Saturday of the month the Lost Art Press storefront is open this Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., for all your book-browsing and woodworking-question needs.

We have the entire line of books on display (as well as a few card scrapers), and they can be purchased with cash, check or credit card. We’re also available to answer questions, demonstrate woodworking techniques and even teach you a skill or two. Kids and pets are always welcome. And for cash or check only, we have available a couple of lump hammer and holdfast “blems” (they work just fine – they’re just not aesthetic perfection) and one or two “blem” books.

Plus, we’ve some quality used tools to sell as well, some of which are pictured in the gallery below. These are cash or check only, and must be inspected/paid for/picked up on site; no shipping, I’m afraid.

If you need some sweetener to get your family to come along, we have one word for you: brunch.

Saturday Brunch in Covington

We are surrounded by some of the best brunch places in the city. Here’s a quick list of our favorites.

Ottos’s. Getting in for brunch at Otto’s is tough on Sundays. Not so much on Saturdays. The lemon ricotta pancakes are amazing, as is the breakfast casserole.

Commonwealth Bistro. We recommend the chilaquiles and the red flannel hash.

Main Street Tavern. As we are furniture makers and writers, we love the bargain brunch at Main Street. Really, everything is great. The waffles are fantastic. The hash special is always good. My personal favorite is the biscuit sandwich with bacon.

Libby’s Southern Comfort. This place just opened. We tried it for lunch and we cannot wait to try brunch.

Coppin’s at Hotel Covington. Breakfast and brunch at Coppin’s is a real treat.

Hope to see you Saturday. We are located at 837 Willard St., Covington, Ky., 41011.

— Fitz