The Windsor was introduced to the American colonies by the English in the early 18th century. American chair-makers quickly adopted the tradition and expanded on the original design creating a uniquely American style. Windsor chairs feature tapered joinery—weight on the seat of the chair causes the joints to strengthen not loosen as is the case in traditional tenon joinery. The strength and stability of the Windsor make them a treasured American classic.
The Sack-back Windsor chair was developed in the 1760s and exported from Philadelphia throughout the American colonies. These popular and comfortable chairs featured an oval seat, with arms typically made up of a single, steam-bent piece of wood, and legs with a simple taper in the foot.
Each chair begins with locally milled green lumber. Every seat is hand-carved from Eastern White Pine. We do all of our turnings by hand on a lathe out of maple or black birch. Every spindle is rived and shaved on a shave horse to ensure the grain is left unbroken from end to end. This traditional process is repeated on the chair's back before steaming and bending. The legs are set using a traditional tapered lock joint which increases the chair's stability. Finally, everything is wedged, hand sanded and finished with your choice of colored lacquer or milk paint. Every piece is custom made to order allowing us to tailor each commission to your specific needs.
Sizing varies slightly by piece, see individual pieces below for variations and sizing by style.
Price: starting at $1200
