My wife and I just plowed through the first 2 seasons of Mad Men. I am
really taken by the Danish Modern furniture styles presented in the show. I'm
a big fan of furniture from that era. I have especially been drooling over Don
Draper's office chair. I have also been wanting to build a chair as my next
challenge. I want to enter the chair into the county fair come August.
I found several views of the chair designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard
Nielsen and decided to build a prototype. Using digital calipers and by
studying a similar chair I own, I made measurements and scaled them to
lifesize.
Construction was under 3 hours with just regular 1x and 2x stock and drywall
screws and pocket screws. The 1x3s and 2x4s are actually pretty close to
the final dimensions already.
In the seat is a picture of the chair that is inspiring this build. I wanted to
build the prototype so I can have all the angles and wood lengths just right
before I started on good wood.
The chair I own feels small and sits pretty low to the ground. I'm over 6' so
I wanted something that sat higher. The top of the chair back was also too
low for long sitting comfort. The prototype and the Mad Men chair have a
higher back which feels better to me. I still might make it a little bit taller.
I should have measured the back angle from my own chair. Instead I
estimated it from the picture. My angle is too shallow and I feel too reclined
in the chair. Good thing this is only a prototype. It's pretty comfortable
already, though.
The finished chair will have turned legs, bent laminated arms, and a bent
laminated back with built in lumbar support--like the original. I also have to
weave the seat and back from cane and make a cushion for the seat.
This project will certainly be a challenge. I'll try to post progress pics along
the way. I plan to construct it from flat stock using loose mortise and
tenon, then remove the legs to shape them round. Weaving will be last.
If you have any insight to share, please do so. I want to win that blue
ribbon.
Thanks for looking,
Paul
really taken by the Danish Modern furniture styles presented in the show. I'm
a big fan of furniture from that era. I have especially been drooling over Don
Draper's office chair. I have also been wanting to build a chair as my next
challenge. I want to enter the chair into the county fair come August.
I found several views of the chair designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard
Nielsen and decided to build a prototype. Using digital calipers and by
studying a similar chair I own, I made measurements and scaled them to
lifesize.
Construction was under 3 hours with just regular 1x and 2x stock and drywall
screws and pocket screws. The 1x3s and 2x4s are actually pretty close to
the final dimensions already.
In the seat is a picture of the chair that is inspiring this build. I wanted to
build the prototype so I can have all the angles and wood lengths just right
before I started on good wood.
The chair I own feels small and sits pretty low to the ground. I'm over 6' so
I wanted something that sat higher. The top of the chair back was also too
low for long sitting comfort. The prototype and the Mad Men chair have a
higher back which feels better to me. I still might make it a little bit taller.
I should have measured the back angle from my own chair. Instead I
estimated it from the picture. My angle is too shallow and I feel too reclined
in the chair. Good thing this is only a prototype. It's pretty comfortable
already, though.
The finished chair will have turned legs, bent laminated arms, and a bent
laminated back with built in lumbar support--like the original. I also have to
weave the seat and back from cane and make a cushion for the seat.
This project will certainly be a challenge. I'll try to post progress pics along
the way. I plan to construct it from flat stock using loose mortise and
tenon, then remove the legs to shape them round. Weaving will be last.
If you have any insight to share, please do so. I want to win that blue
ribbon.
Thanks for looking,
Paul
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