Glastonbury Chair

Cool looking and sure looks like a fun build… but boy-oh-boy that doesn’t look comfortable to sit on for a long period of time.

-- "Fine Woodworking" is the name given to a project that takes 3 times longer than normal to finish because you used hand tools instead of power tools. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI

Very special and unique chair great job.

Impressive!

-- Jason - Colorado Springs

That is really neat! Very nicely done. I like it and thanks for sharing.

-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington

very nice chair. well done.

-- Peter, Woodbridge, Ontario

is it comfortable? it doesn’t look to comfy, but sometimes those are the best ones

-- It's made of wood. Real sturdy.--Chubbs Peterson

very cool chair ,nice finish too

-- Jesus Is Alright with me

Beautiful chair,amaizing design.It’s beautifull when you just look not assembled parts.

-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted

Now that’s neat. I like the wood choice and finish. Makes it look rugged.

-- A childs smile is payment enough.

Very nice!

-- Mike - Northern Upper Michigan

Like the design. Very cool.

-- Nature created it, I just assemble it.

Cool design. Looks real sturdy. Nice work.

-- Rick, Tennessee, John 3:16

Great job, excellent finish. I love it. Long way for me to attempt such project.

-- ALPHA-ZEE CREATIONS

Ok guys and gals,
I should have said a little more about the Glastonbury chair. A quick Google search will no doubt bring you to Daniel Diehl”s book “Constructing Medieval Furniture”. In it, he suggests that the Glastonbury chair probably had a cushion of some kind. When I first saw pictures of it I figured it would be most uncomfortable. Surprisingly, its quite comfortable even without a cushion. It is rick solid when all the wedges holding it together, are in place. Being White Oak the thing weighs half a ton.
The original (1500’s) version was constructed using only small dowels holding the large dowels into the cross members….no glue was used. Apparently in England, there are still examples in existence today. The pictures that I was able to find online all had extensive carvings. If the chair I made was to be in someones house , It would be worth taking the time for the carvings. This one is to be used a few times a year as Medieval type camp chair. I don’t consider it to be fine furniture in any way. There will be no carving on this one.

-- Brian, New Mexico

Congratulations. Beautiful chair, clean lines.

-- BK