The italian "K" chairs at the Philly art museum:

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:11 am

Has anyone here been close enough to see them in person? If so, do you recall noticing if they were cut to have the curved back? Or bent?

It's a longshot.. but I know some of you guys crawl through museums making curators nervous...

Karen Larsdatter · Post by **Karen Larsdatter** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:36 am

What's a "K" chair? A sgabello?

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:41 am

Karen Larsdatter wrote:What's a "K" chair? A sgabello?

No. I don't see an example on that page you linked. They are fairly simple.. long slats that run from where your heels would be on the ground up and back, terminating in a "headrest" of sorts, and short legs that run from the back ground contact forward to become the front of the seat.

Then the seat is slats that are pinned at one end and the center to fold up allowing the chair to collapse. Basically your classic "X" chair turned sideways, with one set of arms removed, and the other lengthened to become a backrest.

James B. · Post by **James B.** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:45 am

You mean these:

I have some images here: http://www.historiclife.com/Events/Muse ... ly2009.htm

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:47 am

Yep! That's it! I know they have at least one straight and one with curved backs.. but the same type of chip carving on both.

Thanks James!

Hubert · Post by **Hubert** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:56 am

Post pics when you're done. :wink:

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:00 am

The other odd thing is one has wider short legs than long ones.. but one has them the same size. Hmm.

Roibeard MacNeill · Post by **Roibeard MacNeill** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:07 am

I'm building a pair for my wife and I...they are packed up along with all of my other projects that are being moved to the new house (Full basement with 12ft ceilings and a larger workshop...yay!). I will post some progress pics when I am back up and running.

Baron Alcyoneus · Post by **Baron Alcyoneus** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:05 am

Maeryk wrote:The other odd thing is one has wider short legs than long ones.. but one has them the same size. Hmm.

Walmart had quality control 500 years ago?

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:11 am

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:
Maeryk wrote:The other odd thing is one has wider short legs than long ones.. but one has them the same size. Hmm.

Walmart had quality control 500 years ago?

Heh.

No, I'm just mulling in my head why one would be built one way, and another the other way. Couple things spring to mind, primary of which is "I only have so much wood, and it's already in X or Y rough sizes, so it's easier to do it this way".

We have really become accustomed to being able to just head to a Big Box and pick up the closest width we need, and then either glue up or rip down to get what we want.. rather than deal with the intense labor required to cut something smaller "to match" (when it's not necessary).

The italian "K" chairs at the Philly art museum:

The italian "K" chairs at the Philly art museum:

Re: The italian "K" chairs at the Philly art museu

Re: The italian "K" chairs at the Philly art museu