I didn't intend to take on such an advanced project just yet, but when one of the more experienced members of my local SAPFM chapter offered to lead a monthly chair-building group in his workshop, I couldn't resist the opportunity. Fred Walker provided the plans and photographs from an original Benjamin Randolph chair (circa 1760) that he had measured at the Philadelphia Museum of Art under Gene Langdon's guidance, and gave tutorials on its construction during our monthly meetings. This has been a great project for me, because I'm made significant leaps forward in just about all of the skill areas (joinery, shaping, carving, etc.). I do need to work more on my finishing skills...specifically on color matching (the mahogany I used was not all from the same tree, and I'm not satisfied with the color matching I achieved). But I suspect it won't be the last chair I do...when I bought the fabric I bought enough to cover a future matching chair. Below is a photo of the completed (first) chair, in place in our new home.
10. Finished and in Situ.jpg