Corner Chair Arm

H

hellmutt

Active member
I am currently trying to replicate a corner chair that was in the book "Masterpieces of American Furniture"

I only have a copy of the black and white picture that was in the book; the picture was taken at a low angle and I can not tell if the arm is circular in shape or somewhat "U" shaped. I am talking about the shape of the arm rail as you look down from above.

I have only seen a few corner chairs and would like to know what the typical shape would have been, the chair is from about 1700.
 
I've made 7 corner chairs.  It is circular in shape.

Dennis Bork
Antiquity Period Designs, Ltd.
 
The answer I think is sort of yes and no. Most generally they are 3/4 of a circle that intersects the 3 points that are the center points of each tenon on the three "hind" legs. In front of those two points they are no longer on this circle and come a bit straight and flare outward. This is a photo of the first corner chair I made in about 1988. I was shooting for a Phil style, and this was my first carved piece. These flare out a tad sort of giving a bit of an invitation to sit. This flare outward can also be seen in Volume 4 of American Antiques of the Israel Sack Collection on the Newport example, pgs 966-967. I think there are perhaps some corner chairs with completely circular arms, but these are the only two kinds I have built. Hope this helps.
 
hellmutt said:
I am currently trying to replicate a corner chair that was in the book "Masterpieces of American Furniture"

I only have a copy of the black and white picture that was in the book; the picture was taken at a low angle and I can not tell if the arm is circular in shape or somewhat "U" shaped. I am talking about the shape of the arm rail as you look down from above.

I have only seen a few corner chairs and would like to know what the typical shape would have been, the chair is from about 1700.
Click to expand...
Hi, I have made several, in different styles, the rail is made exactly the same as a Windsor corner chair rail, and it is U shaped. But for your style it is made out of three pieces of timber, with the half lap joints at the two back corners, (make sure your front arms overlaps the centre back) this gives a stronger joint, then fixed to the back (cresting) rail, with screw’s from underneath

                                            Joseph Hemingway
                                                Sharing the tricks of the trade.
 
I finished the chair about a month ago and have attached a picture.
It took a bit longer because I was also setting up a shop to work in at the same time.
In the end I resorted to oil based stain and Minwax antique oil finish, (I need to learn more about proper stains/dyes and finishes).
I am only a sometime wood worker who has not built anything in ten years due to the lack of a shop so be easy on me. I am sure this chair is not up to the level that I have seen on this site, however I think the design might be of interest.
I did have a blast drawing up the plans from the picture I have and then actually building the chair and look forward to getting started on the next picture in my 10 year old folder of future projects.

Michael
 
Michael, thank you for sharing this, the polish work looks fine, as the seat dose. a fine job.

                                              Joseph Hemingway
 
Thanks guys; yes I did weave the seat (they are very easy actually; took a few hours). If I can I will scan and send the picture that was the inspiration for this chair along with a picture of another chair that I did ten years ago along with the picture that I designed it from.
My taste tends to lean towards the more simple styles of the late 1600's - early 1700's era rather than the more "High Style" furniture of that era. Maybe if I had years of experience and felt I could do some of that work I would change my mind.
I am not actually all that happy with the finished chair and may try the same style again with something other than cherry.

Michael
 
Good chat on corner chairs,all.
My son and I just finished 8 Goddard ones. The arms are circular until they pass the front posts, and then they're on their own; in our case a flared knuckle. As Joseph said, the arm is made up of lapped sections. Sometimes the rear post acts as the pin between a lap, but in the Goddard one there's a short piece in the center that the long pieces lap into.
The cool thing about corner chairs is that they made them for centuries, so You can pick your style. I think there were rarely more than 2 in a house, as I suspect they were sitting around drinking and smoking chairs for guys.There is a story about the ability of women with large skirts to sit in them without wrinkling the skirt and something about guys with swords sitting in them so the sword would be out of the way. I suspect this is right up there on the credibility scale with pouring boiling oil on the Indians from the overhang of 17th century houses.-Al
 
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