Roorkhee Chair

I accidentally found a post on these chairs and had to build one.

Named after the British headquarters of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers in India, the Roorkhee chair was developed in the ﬁnal years of the 19th century as the British military become more mobile following humiliations it suffered in South Africa during the Boer Wars (1880-81 and 1899-1902). Weighing less than 13 pounds, the Roorkhee chair breaks down quickly, takes up little space and is shockingly comfortable. Because it has no ﬁxed joinery, the legs and stretchers move to accommodate uneven terrain and any sitter. It was a mainstay of the British army and navy up until World War II, according to Nicholas A. Brawer’s book “British Campaign Furniture” (Abrams). And it also appears as a popular item for campers, adventurers and those on safari.

Here is some more background:

I wanted some chairs to match the table I made from offshoots and I decided to make these, with one made from mahogany to match two of the offshoot legs, and one from dark walnut to match the other two legs.

Just about every part of these chairs was new to me because every project so far has been straight lines and boxes. I decided that I didn’t to turn the legs as per the plans. I should have listened to the other post that said get over the turning stigma and I should have turned the legs. Almost all of the hassle came from trying to simulate the lines with no hand-tool experience. I also should have made my holes and cut marks BEFORE I started anything. Finally, I should have learned how to use the mahogany pore filler on something simple before this project.

Lina did all of the leather work.

Matching footstools are next.

Here are the almost finished chairs