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Tom Donahey has been a professional post-and-rung chairmaker since 1992. Tom learned to make ladderback chairs in 1991 (with Dan Mayner) and rocking chairs in 1992 (with Brian Boggs). He was juried into the Southern Highlands Craft Guild in 1993. In 1997 Tom and his friend John Kraus greatly impressed visitors at the Craft fair of the Southern Highlands in Asheville, NC with their tree-to-chair demonstration 4 days from oak log to a finished rocker with a woven seat. His work has been displayed in many exhibitions – most recently, The Language of Wood at Gallery W.D.O. in Charlotte, NC.
Tom is a hard working and masterful builder. I had the pleasure of working with him on a timber frame shelter at Drew and Louise Langsner‘s Mountain homestead and workshop in 2006. Tom’s foresight and understanding of tools and wood was impressive. Tom took on some of the more challenging joinery and layout with the precision and detail of fine furniture. Each time the rest of us would sit down Tom would pick up a stack of handcrafted wooden bowls he was carving on and get to work.
The detail, graceful strength and balance of Tom’s rocking chair is immediately evident. Sitting in it is impressive and comfortable. The pieces touch you in all the right places. A customer told me he could watch a movie in his Tom Danahey rocker.
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3 Slat Side Chair
photo by Tim Branwell
Photo of John Kraus and Tom Donahey at Country Workshops
5 Slat Rocking Chair
photo by Tim Branwell