[Cynnabar] Guidelines for new Thrones/Chairs of State

[Art Sinclair]

Hello All!

As you may have noticed in the meeting minutes...the subject of new
Thrones/Chairs of State has come up again...and no this is not a test.

The current chairs have served the Baronage well for about 12 years. They
have traveled far and wide and have been well loved. However, time takes its
toll on us all, and at Tersichore this year we noticed that main support
elements on both chairs had or were starting to fail. Temporary repairs have
been implemented...but given the nature of the issues and the effort and
cost involved in re-building those parts and refurbishing and refinishing
the entirety of both chairs We thought that perhaps it is time to retire
these chairs. To that end we have proposed the bidding process outlined in
the minutes, so that the artisans of Cynnabar can bring their extensive
talents to bear and create new seating for the Baronage.

To assist Our fine artisans, I was asked to put together a wish list for
bids on the new Thrones/Chairs of State. So here goes!

1) Period designs are preferred. Examples include the Glastonbury chair (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_chair) and the classic "X" chair (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-chair). Other period styles would be
interesting to see as well.

2) They have to break down into a reasonably portable bits. The current
thrones take up approximately a 2' x 2' x 3.5' space broken down and tightly
packed (without cushions). Weight is also a consideration here...heavy may =
more durable, but heavy also = heavy. These will get moved around a lot
(Almost every event we go to) and sometimes need to be carried rather long
distances from the vehicle to where they will be set up, or at Pennsic from
camp to the barn. Proper material selection can make a lighter and still
durable chair.

3) Regarding assembly & disassembly. The method of keeping the chairs
together when assembled needs to hold them firmly together and yet needs to
be easy to take apart. Wedge pins seem to work very well for the Glastonbury
style chairs and the X chairs simply fold up in many cases after you take
the arms and back off. The current chairs hook and slot design has worn so
over the years that they now have to be forced together and apart, which has
undoubtedly led to the condition they are now in.

4) Regarding decoration. Carving is good, but can be cost prohibitive if you
are outsourcing the labor. Painting gets chipped and scuffed easily, and
then they aren't pretty anymore. We have painted escutcheons on the current
chairs which can be removed and reused, and would supply all the color
required.

5) Regarding cost. This is not a simple case of lowest bid gets the job.
Obviously we don't want to break the bank...however the design and
craftmanship will be the primary factors for selection.

Things to Remember:

Bids can be collaborative, so if a design person wants to team up with a
tool using person that's great!

Bids can also be "Hey, I looked online and found these awesome chairs for
X$"

Bids should be turned in at a meeting by the first meeting in May, which
would be May 10th. If you just cannot make a meeting between now and then
you can deliver your bid packet to Ourselves or Our Seneschal before May 10.

Bids must include a completion date. Given that the current seating is
becoming less fit for use, getting new seating quickly is important.

Have fun, be creative.

Tairdelbach

They deem me mad for I will not sell my days for gold; I deem them mad for
they think my days have a price.
-- Kahlil Gibran
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