Good Work – The Chairmaking Life of John Brown

Good Work – The Chairmaking Life of John Brown. Author, Christopher Williams

The book’s title comes from an expression used by John Brown to describe a noble act or thing. Good Work – The Chairmaking Life of John Brownis not about simply offering plans or information on jigs and tools, but to challenge how you look at woodworking. Anyone who is interested in handwork, vernacular furniture, workshop philosophy, or iconoclastic characters will enjoy Good Work. Author, Chris Williams spent about a decade with John Brown in Wales, building Welsh chairs and expanding this iconic design.In addition to recounting their work together, Good Workoffers essays from the people directly involved in John Brown’s life as a chairmaker. Nick Gibbs, his editor from Good Woodworking magazine; Anne Sears, John Brown’s second wife; David Sears, his nephew; and Matty Sears, one of his sons who is now a toolmaker, all offer their views of John Brown and his work.

Good Work – The Chairmaking Life of John Brown also allows John Brown (sometimes called JB) to speak for himself. Lost Art Press purchased the rights to reprint 19 of John Brown’s best columns from Good Woodworking, the ones that inspired devotion, provoked anger or caused people to change their lives. Chris Williams then proceeds to show you how he and JB built chairs during the later years together. These methods are different than what John Brown showed in his book “Welsh Stick Chairs.’ And Chris goes into detail that hasn’t been published before. Chris covers the particular tools that JB preferred and gives you more than enough information to build a beautiful Welsh stick chair. But, just to be clear, there are no dimensioned plans included in this book. Chris instead shows you how to build a chair the way John Brown showed people to build a chair. Yes, there are dimensions. Techniques are clearly and cleverly explained. But there are some things left for you to work out – things that will make your chair your own – not just a copy.

The 208-page full-color book is also filled with historical photographs (many never published before) and beautiful linocut illustrations by Molly Brown, one of JB’s daughters. The book is printed on heavy coated paper with a matte finish to make it easy to read. The book’s pages are sewn, glued and taped – then covered in heavy boards and cotton cloth – to create a book that will last for generations. And the whole package is wrapped in a durable tear-resistant laminated dust jacket, which features linocut illustrations by Molly Brown. The entire book is produced and printed in the United States.

Hardback, 208 pages

ISBN 978-1-73339-162-7

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