Here they are. The long-awaited, much anticipated Mack Headley designed, Anthony Hay inspired set of chairs. These chairs finished both apprenticeships for Bill Pavlak and I- actually Bill finished his about two years ago. They were set aside to work on desks and several other projects, but were finally upholstered last month. They’ll be taken to the William Prentis store and offered for sale. So for the Holidays, if you’ve got family coming over and folding chairs won’t do…
The back takes its inspiration from side chairs made by Robert Walker, King George County, VA 1760-1775:
In the 1960’s, archeologists found on the Hay site a unique, bugle shaped foot. It was used on tables as well as chairs. Here’s our rendition:
So if you’re in town, stop by the Prentis store.
And the Hay shop.
We’d like to see you.
Anthony Hay's, Cabinetmaker 
Gorgeous. Mahogany or walnut? What was the finish?
Walnut with boiled linseed oil and wax. More specifically: three coats of the oil thinned with turpentine followed with a mixture of beeswax, Venice turpentine, and red oil (linseed oil with alkanet root).
Thank you! The alkanet root really kicks it off. Looks like Cuban mahogany.
Thanks posting these chairs, nice work. I have a question about the wax finish you mentioned, are those three ingredients (beeswax, Venice turpentine, and red oil) mixed in equal parts?
Curious what the price was set at, can you say here?
Wow, is the shop closed or is there nothing worth posting ?
No to both – obviously…
Corporate changes have forced us to postpone our blog. We’re trying to come up with a solution to this. In the mean time, you may follow along with some of what’s up by following Historic Trades and Skills of Colonial Williamsburg on Facebook.
I was being sarcastic. Love your shop and have visited many times. Thanks for the reply.
A real darn shame that management interferes with the best and most informative woodworking blog out there. I sincerely hope that they come to their senses and allow posts to flow once more unhindered.