Chairs: Hepplewhite, Chippendale
Tootsiebelle
| Posted in Project Plans/CAD Software on
Hello Folks,
Am wanting to build dining chairs. Hoping someone knows where I might find measured drawings for Hepplewhite and/or Chippendale chairs. Would prefer a book if something out there fits the bill. I found a Hepplewhite set at an antique store and got out my trusty tape measure, but I sure would like to have a firm set of plans to compare.
Also, if anyone has built a dining chair, I would appreciate it if you would let me know your wood preference(s) and why you like them.
Any help will be appreciated.
Toots
Replies
There is some sophisticated jonery in Chippendale chairs (angled cocked tenons). I took Lonnie Bird's workshop on Penna. Side Chair and it was totally excellent and worth every penny. I learned a lot. There is no substitute for that kind of instruction. The only catch is that he has registeration in Sept. and to get a spot in his classes you have to have one hand on your wallet and be driving to the FedEx office when registration opens!
Thanks, Bill. He's in demand, that's saying something about his skills. And from the posts I've read, he seems to live up to it. Does he sell videos? It would be quite a commute from Texas! I know what you mean about being there to see it being done. Have you been building many chairs? This will be my first attempt.
Toots
I have taken several workshop from him, and scheduled to do another in Sept. People come there from all over the US. I am still finishing my Chippendale, but am currently also finishing a Winsor fan-back that I did with a friend, Elia Bizzarri, who is a Windsor chairmaker.
That's impressive. Would love to see photos posted when the chairs are finished!
Phil Lowe has full size plans, very meticulously drawn, of several Chippendale chairs, and a Sheraton chair. Check out his web site at http://www.furnituremakingclasses.com
Almost forgot. For chairs of those styles just about the only appropriate wood is mahogany. These are high style chairs. Besides mahogany is very nice to work with, carves well, takes finish well, and looks good. Cherry and maple might be used in country adaptions of the high style chairs, but they are a lot harder to finish attractively.
Edited 6/28/2007 1:36 pm ET by SteveSchoene
Hi Steve,
I'll check it out. Many thanks. Have you made any of them?
Toots
No, but I have taken a class from Phil (carving) and also seen him demonstrate how to make measured drawings of chairs. (He has a video on how to do that---I think it's a Taunton one.) He does great work and is a great teacher as well, I just wish I were able to take another of his classes.
It's nice that you had the opportunity to attend his class. Thank you for the information on the video.
Tootsie,
There are several books available that have scale drawings of chairs:
Measured Drawings of Early American Furniture, Osborn & Osborn , Dover #0-486-23057-0- a few chairs
Masterpieces of Furniture, Salomonsky, Dover #0-486-21381-1--many different chairs
Furniture Treasury vol III, Nutting, MacMillan, has drawings of several chairs, and details of many more.
Also Carlyle Lynch's drawings are available from his grand-daughter, at PO box 13007, Arlington TX 76094 tel 817-861-1619 Catalog $2 there are several different chairs available, drawn from private and museum collections. The drawings are large, and of excellent quality. I have no connection to them, other than being acquainted with the family.
Ray
Ray,
I shall look into those. I very much appreciate the help.
Toots
Hiya, Toots,
Always wanted to say that.
You're welcome.
Ray
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