About:

Christopher Schwarz is a woodworker and writer passionate about traditional woodworking and challenging high-style furniture norms.

Website:

Specializations:

Interests:

Hand-tool woodworking Traditional woodworking skills Ethnographic studies Furniture design
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Inspired by a historic photo, Christopher Schwarz shares the design process and construction details of the 'Bebb Chair,' a modern interpretation of a Welsh stick chair.
Learn to craft a unique Welsh Stick Chair with master craftsman Chris Williams in an immersive, hands-on workshop in Wales.
The author shares the struggles and eventual decline of 'Woodworking Magazine' due to corporate mismanagement, leading to the founding of Lost Art Press as a better alternative.
Exploring the art of chair-making, the post highlights the innovative use of naturally bent wood in creating durable and aesthetically pleasing Stick Chairs 3.0.
Exploring the unique construction of Middle Ages furniture, the post highlights 'staked furniture' and the insights gained from illuminated manuscripts like the 'Tacuinum Sanitatis.'
The post explores the relationship between hand tools and machines in woodworking, advocating for a balanced approach that values both methods based on their application.
Mindfulness and careful observation in woodworking can significantly improve craftsmanship and safety, as emphasized through personal anecdotes and insights from experienced woodworkers.
John Brown shares chairmaking techniques and life wisdom while engaging with attendees at the 1997 Chairmaker’s Colloquium.
Anarchism is a personal practice focused on sustainable living and critiquing consumerism, rather than a strict philosophical doctrine.
Understanding the roles of seller, buyer, and product in transactions is crucial for maintaining healthy business relationships, especially in the publishing industry.
Showcasing your work through photos is crucial for credibility in woodworking, as it aligns words with deeds and enhances professional integrity.
John Brown reflects on his unpublished book and his advocacy for hand tools, while Dave Sawyer shares his future plans amidst audio difficulties.
The author draws inspiration from Gandhi's 'Seven Social Sins' to outline his own 'Seven Crimes Against the Craft' in woodworking, emphasizing simplicity and purpose.
Katherine's painted Irish chair combines traditional craftsmanship with artistic details, available for silent auction starting at $500.
John Brown discusses his journey in selling chairs, highlighting past mistakes and the successful strategies he developed during a 1997 workshop.
The blog post details the successful digitization of old tapes featuring chairmakers John Brown and Dave Sawyer, highlighting the challenges and the commitment to share their insights on chair design.
'Smith’s Key' is an essential 18th-century tool catalog that illustrates the evolution of woodworking tools and their design, particularly the tapered saw blades.
The post examines the advantages of quartersawn wood over flat-sawn wood and the role of sapwood in woodworking, highlighting tree anatomy and growth patterns.
Two experimental chairs, the Chapel Lane and Slane Irish, are crafted from premium woods with unique finishes, available for purchase through a random drawing.
The post emphasizes the value of wood and encourages readers to appreciate its worth while suggesting ways to obtain it affordably or for free.
Combining ethanol and water creates an effective solution for softening wood grain, enhancing woodworking efficiency and preventing warping.
A monthly giveaway for paid subscribers is launched, starting with a handmade leather book cover and a signed copy of 'Sharpen This.'
Isopropyl alcohol is a cost-effective alternative to ethanol for softening wood, offering similar effectiveness and availability.
John Brown shares insights on his chair-making journey in a challenging audio clip, with a rough transcript available for improvement.