Brian Boggs

When Brian Boggs made his first chair in 1982 in Berea, Ky., he had no training, no tools, and no money. For a guide, he used John Alexander’s book Make a Chair from a Tree; for material, he used a log found beside the road; for a chisel, he used a sharpened screwdriver. That chair led to nearly a thousand more in a 20-year quest to perfect the Appalachian post-and-rung ladderback. Boggs now lives in Asheville, N.C., and has branched out, building outdoor chairs that incorporate aluminum, a chair made for acoustic guitarists, even a swinging settee.