Christopher Schwarz is a writer, woodworker and publisher of hand tool woodworking books. His company, Lost Art Press, aims to help the modern woodworker restore the balance between hand and machine work by unearthing traditional hand skills.
This book breaks new ground in the field of woodworking literature. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys simple, utilitarian furniture that is durable and inviting.
The Anarchist’s Design Book
The Anarchist’s Design Book is an exploration of furniture forms that have persisted outside of the high styles that dominate every museum exhibit, scholarly text and woodworking magazine of the last 200 years. It features a series of 11 pieces that are simple to make, clean and shockingly modern.
The projects in this book are built around two basic construction techniques—staked tenons and tapered nails—and relies on common tools to make them achievable by almost anyone. They can be constructed with a simple set of hand tools, and the patterns are readily adaptable to various sizes.
The Art of Staked Furniture
There are furniture types that have been around for centuries that don’t get much recognition. The best part is that they are easy to build, surprisingly durable and have plenty of bang for your buck. This book shines a light on two of them: the staked and the boarded. A slew of high-quality images from which to choose accompanied by a plethora of useful information makes this the ultimate woodworking guide for the homesteader on a budget. This book is an enlightening eye opener and an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning to build beautiful, well-built furniture.
The Art of Staked Chairs
In his new book the Art of Staked Chairs, christopher schwarz dives into two construction methods that are surprisingly simple and produce furniture forms that have been around for centuries. These are what are called “staked” and “boarded” furniture – stools, chairs, tables and shelving that don’t look like much on the outside but ooze character and charm inside.
In this weekend class, students will design a small footstool with a half-scale model made of wire and wood and then build it in class using staked furniture techniques. Afterward, they’ll be able to take home a tool list that will help them make their own staked furniture.
The Art of Staked Worktables
Artwork from ancient times, especially religious art that depicts a time period when wooden workbenches were common, often shows woodworkers with staked benches. However, these works of art tend to be based on a historical context that isn’t entirely accurate when it comes to the actual tools and materials used in the construction. In the meantime, the woodworker’s bench became a highly stylized and decorative element. In this book, Christopher Schwarz reveals a wealth of knowledge that allows woodworkers to make these benches today.
After a chapter on how the early Romans worked, Schwarz goes on to describe several styles of low workbenches and explains how they work and how to build them. He also teaches how to make screw vises, doe’s foot, Chinese palm, side stops and more.
The Art of Staked Beds
Staked furniture is shockingly simple, yet it produces items that have lasted centuries. It also allows designers to explore clean lines, and it has a knack for being shockingly modern. Schwarz’s book explores 18 of these forms — from beds, tables, chairs and chests to desks, shelving and stools. Each chapter explains how the construction method is done, and includes photographs of examples that illustrate his point. He also offers advice on choosing the best materials, including reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. In the end, this is a well-researched book that explores furniture that isn’t typically written about or marketed.