Handcrafted Windsor Chairs
Hello. My name is David Saltmarsh. I am a chair maker living and working in West Dorset on my family smallholding.
I started off making straight copies of traditional Windsor chairs over 25 years ago. My chairs have evolved somewhat but I still aspire to the old styles and techniques. Power tool use is kept to a minimum and the machinery that I do use is powered by the wind and sun.
The finished result is a chair that takes many hours to build and will last for generations.
How I work
I am located in West Dorset in an off grid self-built workshop powered by 100% wind and solar power.
You can read more about the wood selection and the chair making process here.
Chairs
The prices of my stools ranges from £80-150 and chairs range from £400 to £2,000. Larger pieces such as benches and installations are priced by arrangement. The cost of a dining chair is generally about £800 to £1500. The cost of a chair depends on the style, types of wood used and the hours taken to build it. My furniture is hand-made and each chair is unique.
All of my chairs are unique, with differences caused by the wood and making process as well as differences in design and inspiration. I am happy to discuss commissions to suit your requirements.
Links
Mike Abbott of Living Wood offers professional traditional chair making courses in a beautiful rural location in Herefordshire.
The Bodger's Barn offer green wood working introduction courses, chair making courses and forest schools in Dorset with Mace Bryant.
Steve Tomlin carves all sorts of interesting items in Devon.
Tom Vanstone of Devonoak does timber framing in the South West.
Mike Gardner Woodmanship does woodland management, timber framing, mobile saw milling, coppicing products and rustic furniture.
Ben Orford in Herefordshire runs green wood working courses and makes knives and craft tools.
The Association of Pole Lathe Turners has more information on the pole lathe and green wood working community in the UK.
Guy Mallinson runs green wood working and carving courses in Dorset. As featured on the BBC TV series Mastercrafts.