For more than thirty years now, working with wood has given me tremendous satisfaction. Most of my work used to be dedicated to the very precise and delicate building and design of custom cabinetry and custom furniture. As a master carpenter, I would use all the latest power tools of the day.
All this changed when I discovered Windsor chair making. What sets this craft apart is the use of traditional eighteenth century hand tools, not the power tools of today. When using these tools I can actually feel the grain of the wood as I work, an experience that you just don't get with power tools.
For me, there is nothing like the simple act of using my own two hands - and making something timelessly beautiful and durable. I feel like I am part of each chair I make. I fell in love with Windsor chair making from the very beginning and have rediscovered just how gratifying my work can be.
I learned and mastered the art of Windsor chair making from Mike Dunbar, the founder of the Windsor Institute in Hampton, New Hampshire. To him I am forever grateful. He is responsible for reviving Windsor chair making some 32 years ago. Without him I am sure this art form and, more importantly, this part of our American history would have been lost forever. I am truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him.
