Designer and Craftsman
Arthur H. Mitchell started crafting furniture pieces at the age of twelve in a small shop, built for him by his father from an old corncrib. Born in Temple, in the foothills of Western Maine, as a seventh generation Mitchell. Arthur's present shop is located in the family's old cow pasture just up the hill from his first shop.
His early education took him from "The Old Red Schoolhouse", a one room school just 1/2 mile up the road from the Mitchell Homestead through Farmington High School and Gorham State Teachers College where he received his B.S. in Education.
Through the years as an educator for twenty- five years he kept returning, when time permitted, to his one true love.... woodworking. He designed and crafted many custom furniture pieces from grandfather clocks, entertainment centers, and desks to toy chests and rocking horses. His quality pieces are found in homes across the United States, in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and in countries such as Japan, England and Germany. Following his career in education he designed and built fine quality homes. With his family grown it was time for him to pursue his lifetime dream of creating and crafting fine furniture. With his first chair design, W. A. Mitchell Chairmakers, was formed with his wife, Donna, as co-owner.
Arthur was pleased to have his unique design, the Sunburst Windsor arm chair, featured on the November cover of Fine Woodworking magazine in 1992, as a direct result of a juried show done by the Guild of Maine Woodworkers. An international magazine of their caliber lends credibility to Arthur as a chair designer and craftsman of fine quality products.
St. Remy's Press of Montreal commissioned him to write a 500-word essay focusing on design and crafting of his chairs. This essay, along with a portrait photo, compliments the pages of Building Chairs, Vol. 17 of a 25-volume series from Time-Life books, The Art of Woodworking.
The craftsman's love of his work and respect for integrity is reflected in every detail of his chairs such as pegging of the chair back spindles into the seat and crest as well as wedging of legs and king spindles. W. A. Mitchell Chairmakers builds furniture that will "live from generation to generation". A customer said recently to him, when Arthur said he was no artist (referring to a rough drawing done of a proposed custom piece), "maybe you can't draw but you certainly are an artist when it comes to creating in wood." Other than on a fly-fishing stream, Arthur is happiest when working in his shop.... creating fine quality chairs and tables.
Arthur H. Mitchell
with Sunburst Windsor chair
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"Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillfull execution; it represents the choice of many alternatives." |
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- Willa A. Foster
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wamitchell@mainewest.com