tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post245113478306137553..comments2024-03-25T22:03:50.066+01:00Comments on St. Thomas guild - medieval woodworking, furniture and other crafts: Savonarola folding chairMarijnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05839707199186597043noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-4832885745483789262022-12-10T20:07:53.531+01:002022-12-10T20:07:53.531+01:00Hi Marijn, it appears I have just purchased one of...Hi Marijn, it appears I have just purchased one of the chairs (or an extremely exact reproduction) at an estate sale. It's the the 5th one down on the left of the black and white pictures. Caption reads "The chair on the left is also from the Museo San Marco in Florence. 15th century. " <br />Would you please respond to me in email? bazaarlulah@gmail.com I'm trying to find any provenance I can on it now and would love to know where your picture came from. It says "internet" but hopefully you can guide me further? Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02055604856242059517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-70716880827357371372021-06-22T17:25:01.967+02:002021-06-22T17:25:01.967+02:00Hi, actually I never considered the measurements o...Hi, actually I never considered the measurements of the curves. I took existing chairs as example of the curvature, and made a drawing on grid paper taking care that both ends ended vertically, so I could add the armrest and foothold without any problem. Choose the curvature that is most pleasing to the eye, and test the folding with a paper model.Marijnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839707199186597043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-50070862824510693992021-06-11T01:45:38.002+02:002021-06-11T01:45:38.002+02:00Maybe a dumb question, but how do you determine th...Maybe a dumb question, but how do you determine the radius of each of the curves in the leg pieces? It seems to me that each leg piece has four curves: two larger curves where the legs meet the feet and armrests, and then two smaller curves in the middle. If one were to change the height of the chair, one would have to change the radius of the curves to match the new height.<br /><br />If I imagine the front of your Savonarola as a box and remove 5 cm each for the feet and armrests I get a box 69.5cm x 54cm. The diagonal of that box, at 45 degrees, is 88cm. I suppose would draw that 88 cm line and then sketch curves around it, but how do you know how to size the curves?<br /><br />Sorry if these questions seem obvious, I've just never worked with curves before.Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11774001312774727667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-75192528785853757952020-01-10T13:46:57.519+01:002020-01-10T13:46:57.519+01:00It would be interesting to hear your experience of...It would be interesting to hear your experience of these 3 methods. Glueing and bending was definitely no medieval option. Steaming is possible, though it is difficult creating exactly the same shapes by bending. I checked some photos and if I look at the grain it seems to me that they were cut out (16th and 19th century examples)Marijnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839707199186597043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-46117921231290095112019-12-14T00:37:10.930+01:002019-12-14T00:37:10.930+01:00Marijn, thank you for this awesome article, amazin...Marijn, thank you for this awesome article, amazing. I am currently making a set of these chairs. I am making three chairs with three different techniques. One I am cutting out as listed above, two I am steam bending each leg piece as one piece of wood, and the third I am cutting oak into 1/8 inch strips and then gluing and bending. I would like to know of in the oldest of these chairs how were they made. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00737398840179076433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-5634106973757353722019-06-06T19:22:34.893+02:002019-06-06T19:22:34.893+02:00Thanks for having this page. I purchased one yest...Thanks for having this page. I purchased one yesterday that I think was used as a bishop's faldstool due to the interesting ecclesiastical device in the round spot in the backpiece you mentioned as being traditionally reserved for heraldry. I think the chair is quite old, or at least 19th century, both from comparisons to others and a couple old wormholes I've found. Any way I could give you pictures?Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06953919661045764448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-18852775811315715102018-04-12T05:52:26.571+02:002018-04-12T05:52:26.571+02:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Home Starshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05909575451739903626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-60486494913379527352018-04-12T05:51:45.150+02:002018-04-12T05:51:45.150+02:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Home Starshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05909575451739903626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-42415895839479811842016-12-24T11:34:10.414+01:002016-12-24T11:34:10.414+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05585851362310814198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-55875928938750594522016-10-27T17:42:05.508+02:002016-10-27T17:42:05.508+02:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06156851584555103861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-19580684886602281062016-03-21T22:33:08.265+01:002016-03-21T22:33:08.265+01:00Go to an antique dealer and he can tell you. These...Go to an antique dealer and he can tell you. These chairs are still produced - there was a revival of these chairs last century. Marijnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839707199186597043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-23027604825377982692016-03-21T22:30:02.069+01:002016-03-21T22:30:02.069+01:00Most original oak furniture pieces started their l...Most original oak furniture pieces started their life as light coloured wood. During the centuries layers of wax or oil makes the pieces look dark. On the other hand, a savonarola chair from walnut is a lot darker than one made of oak or beech.<br />Painted furniture is mainly found in the early and high middle ages. The savonarola chair is late medieval and not likely found painted.<br />Marijnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05839707199186597043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-36350156115478397242016-01-19T11:47:32.195+01:002016-01-19T11:47:32.195+01:00Wonderful information and photos, thank you! I jus...Wonderful information and photos, thank you! I just acquired four 20th century Savonarola chairs (got them via Craig's List, originally riced at $150 each, marked down to $25 each!) and wanted information re: the color of originals. Had the impression that 15th/16th century furniture was "dark", but your photos show these chairs in light wood as well. Wonder if any were ever painted? Can find no examples.Hanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04394379852357655547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-9515615699249358322015-08-03T05:35:06.681+02:002015-08-03T05:35:06.681+02:00When i was a little boy i used to play on my grand...When i was a little boy i used to play on my grandfathers chair, it was not untill reading your blog i realised it was a Savonarola chair. It was almost the very same as the 20th century reproduction. with the lionheads on the armrest. You have done wonderfull work, and i thank you for keeping a beautifull piece of art alive.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742360004282716679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-33533884843254404842014-08-25T20:09:03.002+02:002014-08-25T20:09:03.002+02:00how to determine age of savonarola chairs how to determine age of savonarola chairs Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15644504596461699051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-13362951937734402942014-08-25T20:07:43.523+02:002014-08-25T20:07:43.523+02:00How can I tell the age of my savonarola chairs ??How can I tell the age of my savonarola chairs ??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15644504596461699051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-22061244081504139022014-06-19T15:12:48.257+02:002014-06-19T15:12:48.257+02:00Such a wonderful resource and such lovely craftsma...Such a wonderful resource and such lovely craftsmanship! I'm hoping to build some of these eventually.<br /><br />Thank you!Rowan Golightlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923662932766496214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-6695536742994443682014-04-28T14:28:41.867+02:002014-04-28T14:28:41.867+02:00I used your two chair images of your modern reprod...I used your two chair images of your modern reproduction, and sent them to your site, crediting you. You cn find it here, and if you want us to remove them, I will do so. Lovely article..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-29035658398845267132013-04-11T11:20:58.879+02:002013-04-11T11:20:58.879+02:00greetings.I have spent a good couple of hours read...greetings.I have spent a good couple of hours reading through your blog. I think it is marvelous, a mine of information and inspiration. I am a medieval craftsman of sorts, www.tobiasoak.co.uk, and I would like to link to your site. Keep up the good work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16411247657919231170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4996432166551690323.post-6706733344838688402013-04-10T07:38:32.258+02:002013-04-10T07:38:32.258+02:00Wonderful Work !!Wonderful Work !!Silvia Bestgenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09561549001940495855noreply@blogger.com