Félix Bouchet

Chair maker

©Anne-Claire Héraud

The sylvan adventures of a chair maker

Félix grew up in France surrounded by forests
He learned to make chairs and benches while he was living in the USA
He teaches an eight-day course on how to make his Windsor chair

Félix Bouchet designs and makes artisanal chairs and utensils, and works only with wood. He learnt the craft of cabinetmaking in North America where he lived a few years. Félix discovered the traditional techniques of manufacturing the Windsor chair while living in Vermont, and has since made this popular and comfortable farm seat the matrix of his creations. He now practises his niche profession in his native Touraine in France. Elegant and supple, the Windsor chair pieces retain in their silhouette the movement of the tree they are made from. Félix’s approach is evident as much in his process as in the final works: it is the trace of the gesture and its repetition that give the objects their unique and intimate character. "The chairs I make are timeless and for life," he claims with pride.

Interview

©Gilles Leimdorfer

©Anne-Claire Héraud

Would you describe your craft as a heritage?: I learnt Windsor chairmaking along with George Sawyer in a very traditional way. We make chairs like they used to make them 200 years ago. I teach his father’s designs and I have my own production in which I try to reinterpret traditional forms.
Can you describe your approach to making kitchen utensils?: Wooden spoons are a pleasure to eat with and if twinned with handmade pottery, they are the perfect fit. When the wood is shaved, and not sanded, the spoons can last forever, so long as they are not soaked in water or placed in a dishwasher. Like waxed cotton or leather, you have to take care of them.
Which chair that you make is the most popular?: My most popular product is the bench. I have made a bunch of them and sent them as far as London and California. They are very light and yet strong, and can be made at almost any length desired. I think people like its timeless design.
What are the pros and cons of working with oak?: Oak is easy to be rived and shaved along the grain, and bends well. Hickory and ash work great, too, but in Touraine where I live we have a lot of oak, so it is the main wood in my workshop. The issue is that oak takes a long time to dry and some oaks may crack when dried too quickly.

Félix Bouchet is a rising star: he began his career in 2019 and he started teaching in 2021