Windsor chairs are among the most original forms of American furniture. Many of the designs evolved from English chairs brought over to colonial America. People of wealth as well as working people through out our history have appreciated their style and function.

Chairs were made with woods that compliment one another's strengths. Most seats were made of easily carved woods such as pine, chestnut or poplar, which allows for deep contouring and shaping. Legs were usually turned from straight-grained maple - a hardwood that allows for crisp details and wears well. Arms, bows and crests were made from woods that bend well, usually red or white oak; other woods might include ash or hickory. Spindles need strength to support the sitter and most are made of straight-grained red oak, white oak or hickory. And while these woods were commonly used for their durability, ease of carving, bendability and tensile strengths, occasionally, craftsmen away from commercial production centers would use woods available to them locally which helps explain why the chairs were made from so many different wood species.

My chairs, while not exact historic reproductions, are the sum of many chairs. They were designed using the best features in turnings, spindles and carvings found on chairs from various makers. I hand select all of the wood for my chairs: straight-grained maple for legs, stretchers and arm stumps, basswood or eastern white pine for seats and the riven (hand-split) oak for spindles, arms and crests. I turn my own fan-back posts, legs, stretchers and arm stumps, and although they may appear similar to the turnings of other chair makers, they are my own design and include various features that I find to be appealing. With the exception of the lathe used for turning, all of my chair parts are shaped and finished with hand tools. Parts are not sanded, other than a light sanding of the seat, leaving the tool marks and facets left by the drawknives, spokeshaves and carving tools used.

I strive for finishes with a traditional appearance by using milk paints, topped with a wiping finish containing varnish, linseed oil and mineral spirits. After drying, the piece is then waxed to bring out the full color and add luster to the finish.

All of these combined allow me to produce a chair that is truly beautiful, and reminiscent of the chairs produced during the colonial period of the United States.

This site contains a sampling of the styles that I make. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at: traditionalwindsors@cox.net