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Featured Windsor Chairmaker
Jeff Trapp |
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Jeff Trapp's inspiration to build Windsor
chairs began in Maine, while he was learning boat building. Noting the grace
of antique Windsor chairs, he bought a plan for a Windsor chair and endeavored
to make similar chairs. Jeff's goal in creating each chair is beauty, comfort
and longevity.
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Jeff works alone in his chairmaking
shop in Madison, Wisconsin. He starts by harvesting trees from northern Wisconsin
woodlands. Jeff uses his collection of antique tools to handcraft each chair.
Jeff rives (hand splits along the grain) chair parts for the legs, spindles
and bows. He uses wedged-tapered sockets for leg-to-seat and armpost-to-seat
joints which results in a highly durable construction. He assembles the chairs
with the undercarriage in compression which means the stretchers are holding
the legs out, not in to assure structural integrity even if the glue
fails.
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" What is it about Windsor chairs? It's
probably something a little different for everyone. For me it's starts with
traditions, the designs, methods, experiences and history. Amazingly I've
only found one place where I can improve on what the old timers did, and
that's modern glue. I don't believe you can improve on their designs, the
tools they used, their finishes or how they secured and prepared materials.
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I start with the traditional ideas, shapes
and forms, I might think a leg is better at slightly different angle or with
a different turning. Proportions might be improved by changing the back height
or the angle of a stretcher. It might be more comfortable if I make the seat
a little larger in front. But the feel, the sense of timeless shapes and
lines stay the same.
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I don't try to make Windsors something
they were never meant to be. I do nothing that takes away from the whole
and leaves you with any other impression than a simple, nice looking, well
proportioned chair. Beneath the looks are the woods, the joinery, the tools
and assembly methods that have evolved over a long history. Chairmakers make
their statements with how they unify all the small simple parts of their
chair, the pattern of the turnings, the angles of the legs, stretchers, armpost
and back, the sense of proportion in the complete chair. A good chair doesn't
overwhelm, it just looks and feels right."
Jeff also offers one-on-one chairmaking
instruction in his shop 4-5 times a year.
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