Unfinished Red Oak Low-Back Folding Glastonbury Chair (LB04)
$350 + Shipping
This is a version of the iconic late medieval English chair known as the Bishop’s Chair from Glastonbury Abbey. There are 11 known surviving examples from the period, all slightly different. A couple of them fold, but most do not; they instead disassemble.
This interpretation is designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble. It has just eight instead of two dozen parts (not counting the wedges).
It folds nearly flat for easy packing and storage, making it great for your reenactment groups in the hall, the field, or the court.
The seat is 17″ off the floor and generously 19″ wide by 16″ deep. The back is 20″ long. The arms are interchangeable but asymmetric, giving you 2 different back angles. One is a comfortable 15 deg for lounging, and the other is 10 deg for a more upright posture. Depending on the species of wood, they weigh 25-35 lbs.
Each chair is meticulously handcrafted from kiln-dried hardwood, ensuring its robustness and longevity. It is currently available in red oak, but many other species are possible (possibly at an additional cost). Send a message to inquire.
Oil Finished Red Oak Low-Back Folding Glastonbury Chair (LB03)
$400 + Shipping
This is a version of the iconic late medieval English chair known as the Bishop’s Chair from Glastonbury Abbey. There are 11 known surviving examples from the period, all slightly different. A couple of them fold, but most do not; they instead disassemble.
This interpretation is designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble. It has just eight instead of two dozen parts (not counting the wedges).
It folds nearly flat for easy packing and storage, making it great for your reenactment groups in the hall, the field, or the court.
The seat is 17″ off the floor and generously 19″ wide by 16″ deep. The back is 20″ long. The arms are interchangeable but asymmetric, giving you 2 different back angles. One is a comfortable 15 deg for lounging, and the other is 10 deg for a more upright posture. Depending on the species of wood, they weigh 25-35 lbs.
Each chair is meticulously handcrafted from kiln-dried hardwood, ensuring its robustness and longevity. It is currently available in red oak, but many other species are possible (possibly at an additional cost). Send a message to inquire.
This one is finished with two coats of a linseed oil and varnish blend to provide essential protection from dirt and water. You can add additional coats to further enhance protection; see our finishing page for details.
Maple Late Medieval Folding Stool (MFS02)
$200 + Shipping
This is a reconstruction of a lightweight, portable seat common in 15th—and 16th-century Europe. It folds nearly flat for easy packing and storage, making it ideal for your reenactment groups in the hall, on the field, or the court.
They are 20 inches wide, 19 inches tall, and 15 inches deep. Folded, they are 36 inches tall, 5 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. Depending on the species of wood, they weigh between 8 and 10 pounds.
Each stool is meticulously handcrafted from kiln-dried hardwood, ensuring its robustness and longevity. It is finished with a clear linseed oil/varnish blend. The pivots are steel rods, adding to their durability, and they are capped with solid brass finials for a touch of elegance.
Custom orders for other species are available for an additional charge. Send a message to inquire.
Bubinga & Maple Late Medieval Folding Stool (BFS02)
$300 + Shipping
This is a reconstruction of a lightweight, portable seat common in 15th—and 16th-century Europe. It folds nearly flat for easy packing and storage, making it ideal for your reenactment groups in the hall, on the field, or the court.
They are 20 inches wide, 19 inches tall, and 15 inches deep. Folded, they are 36 inches tall, 5 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. Depending on the species of wood, they weigh between 8 and 10 pounds.
Each stool is meticulously handcrafted from kiln-dried hardwood, ensuring its robustness and longevity. It is finished with a clear linseed oil/varnish blend. The pivots are steel rods, adding to their durability, and they are capped with solid brass finials for a touch of elegance.
Custom orders for other species are available for an additional charge. Send a message to inquire.
Out of Stock at the moment. One to two week lead time for more.
Walnut, Maple & Bubinga 15th Century French Bench (FB03)
$150 + Shipping
A lovely piece of furniture, this sturdy bench can add a touch of elegance to any room or reenactment camp. It’s 20 inches high, 25 inches wide, and 11 inches deep, making it a comfortable single-person seat. However, it is slightly taller than a typical chair seat (17 inches), as the source drawing shows that this was also used as an impromptu table.
The top is made of Black Walnut, the legs are Maple, and the rails are Bubinga. Hand-forged iron nails complete the look.
The prototype of this bench resides in my living room and is regularly used as a laptop stand, a footrest, and occasionally as a seat. My wife will never part with it. Happily for you, I’ve made more! The bench shown is made of Maple, although other woods and sizes are available.
This bench was based on a bench in the image ‘L’annonciation’ in Les heures de Pigouchet pour Vostre (Pigoichet’s Book of Hours for Vostre), which dates to the third quarter of the 15th Century. This image, along with many others and a discussion of the material culture of 15th-century France, can be found in Les Debuts Du Livre Imprime (1983).
The finish is an oil/varnish blend, something that’s easily renewed as needed to protect the piece.
Custom wood choices are possible, contact me for details.
