The Construction of the Bent Willow Chair…
Last Spring, I participated in a Willow Chair Making Workshop that was held in Walla Walla and was instructed by Don King. Don’s chair building techniques are more artistic, more technically exacting and less rustic. I feel extremely fortunate to have built my first chair in this environment…
Don harvested the willows in Idaho (and brought them with him) because he was familiar with where to find them. The workshop started with Don showing us a sample chair frame. We then selected thicker willow pieces for the frame.
Don’s instructional technique was to guide our progress… ‘since you picked out those willows, these pieces would probably work well with them.’ He introduced each stage of the design and then helped us individually with the building process.
I’d like to share some pictures of the building process.
- a selection of willows and a Don King peeled bark chair greeted us on the first morning
We first built the chair frame from thicker willow pieces and then added the thin willow seat pieces.
Don checking my chair frame construction
Once the seat willows were completed the curve of the back was established.
Dave beginning work on the chair back
Here is the workshop group and our chairs.
after five days there we were: Don, Mark, R.L., Dave and some fine chairs
