If you aren’t sure, the people at BlacksmithBolt.com should be able to sort you out with the help of slotted, unplated steel screws. (Mine are in the mail.)
— Christopher Schwarz
The History of Wood, Part 42
Correction to Digital ‘Chairmaker’s Notebook’
If you ordered a digital copy of “Chairmaker’s Notebook” – either the digital copy alone or the one packaged with the hardcover – check your Inbox. We have issued a new version of the digital copy of the book that corrects an error in the appendix on the shavehorse.
The hardcover version will be correct – so no worries there.
We don’t have a lot of errors, but when we find them, we issue a new digital version of the book for free download to current customers. We then publish the correction here on the web site for our print customers. And we offer a corrected page that you can slip into your print copy, as we did here.
All first editions (even from major publishers) have minor problems that slip by the editors and the author during the proofing process. The real test is what the publishing house does when an error is found.
Apologies for the error.
— Christopher Schwarz
Meet Pierre Jeanneret, Swiss Designer
Editor’s note: When people ask why I write about woodworking, I usually answer: “It’s the only thing I’m qualified to do – besides washing dishes.” In truth, however, my unspoken goal is to nudge woodworkers to close their laptops or books and build something. Anything. One of the ways to inspire is to expose people to work or styles they haven’t seen before. While I like and respect the Shaker, Arts & Crafts and period styles, the world is a much bigger place.
Recently Suzanne Ellison, our indexer and a contributing editor, has been showing me a lot of work by Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967), a Swiss architect, furniture designer and cousin to Le Corbusier. I’ve asked her to share some of that here. I know some snarky commenters are going to say it’s clunky or ugly. That’s not the point. There is something you can take away from each of these pieces. Some look dated. Some are brilliant.
You’ll understand Jeanneret’s work better (especially the Indian stuff) if you read this short bio at MoMA.
— Christopher Schwarz
If you are designing chairs for new modern buildings in a high heat and humidity environment you are going to use teak and there will be caned backs and seats for breathability. The chairs are for government offices and college classrooms so they have to be sturdy. Lastly, a high number are needed. Jeanneret came up with a basic design that could be adapted for various uses and that could be made with local materials. I like the chunky V-legs and arms balanced with the lightness of the woven back and seat. In profile the upside-down “V” with a line across the top almost looks like the Chinese character for human. My favorite is the Lounge Chair. I could live with it.
All the Chandigarh designs were done in the 1950s, as was the Scissor Chair for Knoll. It had a simple frame and came with cushions that snapped on. All of the chairs and stools made for the buildings in Chandigarh were teak and made in India. Chandigarh was the first planned city post-independence from Britain.
More pieces he designed for the buildings he and Le Corbusier designed in Chandigarh, India.
— Suzanne Ellison
Free Chapter of ‘Chairmaker’s Notebook’
If you are on the fence about ordering Peter Galbert’s “Chairmaker’s Notebook,” here is a nice sample of the book: Chapter 19 on carving the seat of a Windsor chair.
As Peter points out in the book, one of the coolest and somewhat mysterious parts of building a Windsor is carving the seat. The tools and processes seem foreign – it’s almost like sculpture.
As you’ll see in this chapter, it is a straightforward process with discrete steps. And it’s something you can wrap your head around thanks to the Peter’s drawings and the details.
You can download a pdf of the chapter using the following link. You don’t have to “register” or do anything silly. Just click the link and the chapter will begin downloading to your computer.
“Chairmaker’s Notebook” is available in the Lost Art Press store in both digital and hardcover formats. Domestic customers receive free shipping if they order before March 20, 2015, which is the day the book will ship from the printer.
Also, the following retailers have indicated they will stock “Chairmaker’s Notebook:” Lee Valley Tools, Tools for Working Wood, Highland Woodworking, Henry Eckert Fine Tools in Australia and Classic Hand Tools in the UK. Links to our retailers can be found here.
— Christopher Schwarz