Hans Schmidt

Woodwork

Windsor chairs, a specialty

Windsor Chairs

Currently we offer eight styles of Windsor chairs plus a Windsor stool. All chairs are made from solid wood—much of it harvested by Johan. The process for building these chairs starts with turning the legs on a lathe. Next the seat is hand-carved to achieve the proper contour to maximize comfort—a decorative edge is added using a specialized gouge tool. Once the seat and legs are finished, spindles are made by first splitting sections of wood. These pieces are then rounded to shape using a spoke shave. Any bows—the curved pieces—are steam-bent. Photos of the different steps used to build a chair can be seen on our Photo & Video Gallery page.

All chairs shown on this website have typical colonial colors for this era and are priced “UNFINISHED”. Other color combinations are available upon request.

Nantucket Fan Back

The Nantucket Fan Back is a large chair, perfect next to the fireplace, or in a reading corner. This impressive chair has hand-carved handholds and top rail. The seat is carved using a gutter adze, a scorp, compass plane. The spindles are made from green wood, first split, then shaped with a variety of hand tools. Because these spindles are riven rather than turned, they are considerably stronger than factory built chairs. The detail of the arm rest is hand-carved by Johan.

Height: 45 inches

Width: 31 inches

Seat Depth: 22-1/2 inches (with brace)

Price: $900 + shipping

Windsor Sackback

The traditional Windsor Sackback is often seen as the captain’s chair at the table. The chair is made of pine (seat); oak (spindles) and maple (turned legs). All chairs are made to order. Johan uses milk paint to finish these chairs. The photos shown are black-over-red. A red coat is first painted on the chairs followed by a black coat. The black is rubbed out in areas where normal wear would remove the paint. This distressing makes the chairs look like well-worn antiques. Many color combinations are available.

Height: 38-1/2 inches

Width: 24 inches

Seat Depth: 17 inches

Price: $700 + shipping

Windsor Rocker

The Windsor Rocker is essentially a sack-back with a high comb on the back and rockers, of course! Johan makes this rocker for his children’s first child – the grandchildren have been rocked in it from their first day home, and will someday rock their own children and grandchildren in this chair. What a lovely heirloom to give to your grandchildren!

Height: 46 inches

Width: 34 inches

Seat Depth: 17 inches

Price: $750 + shipping

Boston Settee

We offer the Boston Settee in three sizes—2 person, 3 person and 4 person. Great for a foyer, in front of the fireplace, or as seating at the kitchen table. These settees are very versatile. The spindles are hand-carved. Top bow and arm bow are both hand-shaped then steam-bent to achieve the curved shape.

2 Person Settee Height: 37 inches

2 Person Settee Width: 41 inches

2 Person Settee Seat Depth: 17 inches

2 Person Settee Price: $1200 + shipping

3 Person Settee Height: 37 inches

3 Person Settee Width: 61 inches

3 Person Settee Seat Depth: 17 inches

3 Person Settee Price: $1800 + shipping

4 Person Settee Height: 37 inches

4 Person Settee Width: 81 inches

4 Person Settee Seat Depth: 17 inches

4 Person Settee Price: $2400 + shipping

New York City Bow Back

The New York City Bow Back side chair features a single bow with a back-brace.

It makes a perfect companion chair to the Continuous Arm chair. Its seat is shaped the same—tapered toward the front.

Height: 37-1/2 inches

Width: 23 inches

Seat Depth: 21 inches

Price: $550 + shipping

Continuous Arm Windsor

The Continuous Arm Windsor is one of the most elegant forms. It features a single piece of wood is formed then steam-bent with a double-bend to form the arm rests and back bow. This chair has the same style seat as the New York City side shown above.

Height: 38 inches

Width: 23 inches

Seat Depth: 21 inches

Price: $750 + shipping

Writing Arm

The Writing Arm chair is similar in size to a Nantucket Fan Back, but with a writing pad. The writing pad can also hold a tablet.

The chair can be made to accommodate left or right-handed people.

Height: 41 inches

Width: 35 inches

Seat Depth: 18 inches

Overall Depth: 32 inches w/ writing platform at crest

Price: $950 + shipping

Philadelphia Comb-Back Armchair

The Philadelphia Comb-Back Armchair, Circa 1760.The features that make this a Classic in early Philadelphia are the tall wraparound back, the deeply saddled “D” shaped seat, the well-splayed leg placement, carved volute ears and the beautifully designed leg turnings. (page 12, Book of American Windsor Furniture / John Kassay)

Height: 17-1/2 inches

Width: 24 inches at crest

Seat Depth: 17 inches

Overall Width: 28 inches at Crest

Price: $1200 + shipping

Windsor Hobbit Footstool

The Windsor Hobbit Footstool has the same tapered tenon leg structure as all the other chairs allowing it to tighten with age.

Height: 10 inches

Width: approx. 12 inches

Seat Depth: approx. 9 inches

Price: $95 + shipping