A Welsh stick chair by John Brown, made in 2000.
The chair has Welsh oak sticks, stretchers and legs. The seat, comb & arms are made from Welsh elm. The chair is finished in “Welsh Miserable” a term coined by John. See Chris Williams’s book ‘Good Works’ for more information on the finishing and the term.
The underside of the seat is carved with Johns Celtic Cross mark and has a paper label which reads – “Welsh Stick Chairs 10/2000 Welsh armchair, John Brown, CLW “. CLW refers to Chris Williams who worked with John at this time and was responsible for making many of the chairs while John concentrated on other projects – what he called his “thinks”. The following is an extract from Good Woodworking magazine – “ I have recently joined up with an assistant. I can hardly call him an apprentice as I seem to be working more slowly. Chris has managed to understand my philosophy, and is able to distinguish the important things from the unimportant points on a good chair, what can be left and what must be put right. So now I can perhaps build some of my thinks. I might not have the imagination, or the courage, to deviate too far from the certain path, but a lemon can be broken up and represents only a few hours work and about £50 of materials. We’ll see.”
Provenance – Chair sold by Workshop Wales, Fishguard in 2000.
25” wide x 18” deep x 40” (front of seat 18½” high).
64cm wide x 46cm deep x 115cm high (front of seat 47cm high)
£4850 Sold
John Brown (1932 – 2008) was a Welsh chairmaker, boatbuilder, author, jet pilot, smallholder and so much more. His book “Welsh Stick Chairs” and his columns in Good Woodworking magazine inspired a generation of hand-tool woodworkers and chair makers all over the world to build things that lived up to label of “Good Work”
From Good Works – The Chairmaking Life of John Brown by Christopher Williams, published by Lost Art Press 2020.
See:
Welsh Stick Chairs by John Brown, Abercastle Publications 1990 and also by published by Lost Art Press
Good Work – The Chairmaking Life of John Brown by Christopher Williams, published by Lost Art Press 2020
Available in the UK from Classic Hand Tools
Available in the USA from Lost Art Press
