Each chair is made as an individual work of art; no parts are mass-produced. He builds each chair in its entirety, from start to finish, in the shop next to his home, with the average chair requiring approximately two to three weeks of one-on-one attention, depending on the complexity of the chair and the cooperativeness of the particular wood used. He limits his production to twelve custom chairs per year to guarantee that he never has to rush a work of art.

The basic chair design is tailored for each individual with numerous adjustments made to properly fit the intended sitter. Most people have never experienced a chair that fits their body properly, and would be amazed at the comfort of a custom-made wood rocker. Andy's smallest chair is such that his dear grandmother's short legs reach the floor just right, and his largest chair will comfortably cradle and support a seven-foot tall professional basketball player.

A custom rocking chair of this quality has no need of any cushions or padding, which cover up the natural beauty of the wood. This unexpected level of comfort can be achieved because the dimensions of the chair fit the body in such a way that the body's weight is evenly distributed and supported. This proper support causes the utterly relaxing sensation of floating when rocking in a Chidwick chair. Also, the lumbar support in these chairs is exceptional. The spindles actually flex and bend with the natural curves of the sitter's back, due to the special process used in creating and installing the spindles themselves. Until a person has actually sat in a well-made rocker like this, it is difficult to imagine the difference that can exist between one handcrafted to these exacting standards and a mass-produced chair, made cheaply for the "average" sized consumer.

Andy's greatest desire in building chairs goes far beyond the comfort of one sitter, however. He builds his rocking chairs well enough to see them passed on from generation to generation. Imagine the joy of one day owning "Grandpa Bud's Chair," feeling where his rough hands have worn the handrests smooth and soft; or "Auntie Ruth's Chair," feeling the size and shape of her body cradling you once again, just as she did when you were a child in her lap.

When Andy receives a custom order for a chair, the first step is to find just the right wood. He prefers to select the lumber by hand, so he often travels great distances to suppliers both large and small, looking for something special. He then carefully selects each piece of wood for its beauty, richness of tone, and grain patterns and matches up the pieces in such a way as to highlight the natural beauty of the wood.

146 Crooked Pine Rd.

Stevensville, MT 59870

www.chidwickchairs.com