Windsor chairs and other fine furniture handcrafted in the 18th Century American Tradition
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Leopold Legacy Center Chair
In 2007, I was commisioned to design and create 20 chairs from trees harvested during the timber stand improvement on the lands of the Leopold reserve near the Wisconsin River north of Baraboo, Wisconsin. The making of the chairs was but a tiny part of the process of making the new Leopold Legacy Center (one of the "greenest" buildings on the planet) out of the surrounding local materials. I was provided black cherry and red maple harvested from the site. You can see them in the conference room wing of the center if you visit. Visit their website at http://www.aldoleopold.org.This place is a wonderful example of what can be done with local materials and real sustainable design to create a better world.
To the right; Chair, conference room of Leopold center.
The design of the chair is based loosely on that of a "Stick Chair" a bit cruder style typically made by the rural chairmakers of Wales during the 18th century. It features local black cherry
and with lighter spindles of red maple. One unique design feature are the legs which are 8 sided and tapered. Like true Windsor, there are no screws or nails. Tenons are locked in place with hardwood wedges.
I will do commisions of this same design from other woods. They would not be available in wood from the same stock. However, the same style of chair can be made with a variety of woods, including cherry, walnut, ash or maple.
www.baraboovalleywindsors.com
