Black Chairs

Gordon Monk

Chairs from Green Wood

I will start a chair with an initial idea: a wide arm, tall back and turned legs; a free form large black chair; a double seat with a single piece of wood for the arms. I will make a few sketches and have a rough idea of size. I will then start looking among my log pile for suitable bits of wood. I spend some time examining the wood, looking at the blemishes and deciding how to split it. This then dictates the form the chair will take.

bodger@blackchairs.co.uk

Black chairs are made from oak which is treated with vinegar and wire wool. The acid reacts with the tannins to creating a bluish black colour. With repeated applications and time this turns black.

Chairs range in price from £300 to £2000

For free form chairs, I roughly shape the wood into components and leave it to dry. Often I have two or three ideas on the go at once with various piles of components around the workshop, in the airing cupboard or lying by the rayburn.

Free form chairs take a lot longer than those with turned components, the end result is more sculptural and so a lot of time is spent shaping the wood. Comfort is also a consideration, and often requires a lot of minor adjustments.