Woodworker: Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez

In the early decades of the 19th century, many chairs were made in the Greek Revival style–based in part on the ancient Greek klismos chair with its radically curved bayonet legs. It is a handsome form, but structurally unsound. Gomez-Ibanez built this modernized chair for a client with a collection of originals that were too fragile to sit in. He solved the main structural problem by making the back legs and back post from one continuous piece. He added a cap of ebony to protect the vulnerable short grain of the side rail where it rises to a point at the back.

Photo: Dean Powell

Launch Gallery