Welsh Stick Chairs

by John Brown

A reprint of the popular 1990 text by Welsh chair maker John Brown, this is an informative look at traditional Welsh stick chairs from the 18th and 19th centuries.

With a lively, straightforward style, Brown examines the historical and social context of chairmaking in Wales, contrasting early stick chairs to the later, more commonly known American and English Windsor chairs.

Blending traditional approaches with his own insights, he then shows how he makes a stick chair without drawn plans, using only basic hand tools. Each step is accompanied by a single photograph of the author at work with text that provides clear explanations and forthright commentary.

He concludes with a brief look at steaming and bending wood for chair parts, with a nod to the challenges of seasoning wood in Wales’ damp climate.

With over 80 black-and-white photos and drawings, the book is an inspiration and a treasure trove for the craftsperson who wants to learn from the ways of the past.

Softcover, 7 1/4" x 9 5/8", 94 pages.

Reprinted in 2018.