My story
My passion for woodworking began over 50 years ago as an industrial arts student. In the early years as a hobbyist, I yearned to be able to make my living doing what I love, but the pressures of family and raising two children prevented me from taking that big step. During those years I made a variety of pieces, each done well, but done only once or twice and not perfected. When I made my first Pennsylvania Rocking Chair, I realized that it was more than just a piece of furniture. It was a unique work of art worthy of refinement and perfection which I created to pass along to future generations. I would like to share this gift with you.
Beauty and Comfort in Matchless Combination
The Pennsylvania Rocking Chair is an exquisite blend of form and function. Hand crafted in the tradition of fine American furniture, it is at once a work of art and a sensual experience in comfort. Each chair is custom made to your measure by an artisan whose goal is to produce a treasured heirloom for your family. Each Pennsylvania Rocking Chair is crafted from boards cut from the same tree and carefully positioned to insure matching grain and consistent direction, creating a subtle beauty not seen in other chairs. The seat and the headrest are matched from adjacent pieces so that grain matches perfectly. The back braces are book matched front and back as are the rockers, top and bottom. The finish is exquisitely smooth, having been gradually sanded and polished with increasingly fine abrasives to the final finish using a 4000 grit product before applying 3 coats of Daish Oil finish.
Custom Fit and Comfort
The Pennsylvania Rocking Chair is as comfortable as it is stunning. As you rock, the floating back braces rotate and flex to conform to and dynamically support the full extent of your back. The scooped armrests, the dramatically curved and coopered headrest, and the deeply hand carved seat virtually envelop you. Every chair is custom fitted to the personal specifications of the owner. I can accommodate people of all heights, widths and body types by collecting a few key measurements prior to beginning work. Your chair will fit you as if it was made for you, which it was!
Quality and Craftsmanship
The construction of the Pennsylvania Rocking Chair takes a solid 150 hours of work. I select the most beautiful, figured hardwood I can find for each chair. Chairs are available in Cherry, Walnut, and Maple or almost any other wood you desire if available. I favor highly figured versions of these woods for the beauty of their grain. Each chair is unique because so much of it is carved free hand. The chair building process starts with the layout of the wood to create the most attractive presentation of color and grain. This is the most critical step in the process as the symmetry and match of the grain profoundly affect the chair’s final appearance. Next, I cut and carve and sand and glue over 100 pieces of the selected species as shown on the construction page. After several weeks of work, the chair is ready for delivery.