The Woven Chair

Brandy Clements & David Klingler are the co-owners of Silver River Center for Chair Caning, the nation’s only chair weaving school & museum. The school is an Official Education Center of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Brandy is a 4th generation chair caner and the couple are highly regarded in their field as chair caning ambassadors (aka Chair Nerds). They teach and speak at conferences, museums, craft schools and craft shows, and travel the US & Europe to study the heritage craft. They have taught hundreds of students of all ages from across the globe and helped launch 30+ small businesses. They have been published in Mother Earth News, have been featured in American Craft Magazine and other regional publications, as well as on television including CBS, PBS, and The Travel Channel. They love to chat with podcasters about chairs and the chair nerd community, and continue to restore chairs and collaborate with furniture makers alongside their golden retriever, Rosie in Asheville, North Carolina. Find them online at www.SilverRiverChairs.com or @SilverRiverChairs on Instagram and YouTube.

Foreword and Caned Furniture History

Foreword—Chair Weaving in the US

Silver River Center for Chair Caning 

Introduction




GETTING STARTED

Anatomy of a Chair

Common Chair Identification

Tools and Skills Library

Structural Issues and Repairs

 

SEAT WEAVING

Overview

Paper Rush

Pre-Twisted Natural Rush (PTNR)

Introduction to Advanced Materials

For Hand-Twisted Cords

Shaker Tape

Splint Reed

Introduction to Hickory Bark

Open Weave

 

MID-CENTURY

Overview

Danish Cord Rush

Moeller #71

Yugoslavian Folding Chair

Hans Werner #501 “The Chair”

 

CHAIR CANING

Caning Overview

Laced Cane

Pressed Cane