Gibson Chair and Creepie

The Irish Gibson chair is one of the most comfortable and simple vernacular chairs ever made.  With its dramatically raked back and angled sticks, the chair commands attention in a room. And thanks to its geometry, this chair is both incredibly rigid and comfortable. Though the chair looks like a chaise-lounge, it actually holds the sitter quite upright, cradling the shoulder blades.

Compared to other vernacular chairs, the Gibson is one of the most accessible forms to beginning chairmakers.  The seat is unsaddled – like almost all Irish chairs – and there are no stretchers below the seat.  

To make this class even more approachable to new chairmakers, we will first build a Creepie staked stool.  The Creepie is a simple 3-legged stool. An example of common vernacular peasant furniture, it is great as a low seat, or combine it with your Gibson chair and you have a foot rest or side table.  Making a Creepie first lets us practice many of the skill we will use for building the Gibson chair.

Next, we will shift focus to the Gibson chair.   The chair is made with simple hand tools, mostly planes, drills and spokeshaves, with a power tenon cutter used to speed the construction process. We will also use an updated approach – no jigs required – leaning into “sandwich drilling” and the back post placement to keep everything aligned.  

While this form is ideal for first-time chairmakers, it does require intermediate woodworking skills.  We ask that students be quite confident with hand tools and sharpening.

The price includes all materials (wood, glue, etc.) Each class also includes a light breakfast and lunch every day.  

For information on Covington, including where to stay and where to eat, click here.