Greg has made chairs and other
furniture in Vaughan, MS for almost 30 years.
Now...HE HAS BUILT A NEW SHOP!
Directions: North of the old shop on I-55 (Take the Vaughan, MS Exit - Go West and
take the first paved road to the left (Bend Road). Go about 2 miles. The new
shop is on the left side.
Greg Harkins is a Master Chairmaker. His furniture graces the homes of "U.S.
Presidents, Congressmen, Celebrities, Mike Foresman and other big dogs, but mostly just
Common Folk."
Even though Greg specializes in rocking chairs, he also makes straight
back chairs, benches, tables, and beds. The furniture is hand made. Those parts that
are turned are turned by hand.
Greg uses techniques passed down from the
mid-1800s. He has made chairs for more than 25 years, three of these as an
apprentice under a Master Chairmaker, Tom Bell who made a living building chairs for 67
years.
Greg is a graduate of Mississippi
State University with a B.S. in Psychology. He is a Fellow Member and sat on the
Board of Directors for the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi. He is also a member of
the American Craft Council and the Louisiana Craft Council.
Greg is preserving a virtually lost craft. He cuts his trees, mills the lumber,
turns all parts by hand, assembles chairs and other furniture, finishes, and sells his
creations. He uses shrink fitted technique passed down through centuries that result
in extremely durable furniture of a very high quality.
Each piece is made, dated, and signed by Greg and guaranteed for life. Greg hand
picks trees for lumber to make his chair parts. A chair takes approximately 25 hours
to make. The backs and bottoms of the chairs are woven by hand.
In a recent interview, Greg was asked how
he is able to do so many different things? His reply with a laugh was,
"Well, I don't do them all at once."
Need Additional Information?
For Quick Personal Response
Contact:
Mimi Harkins
Post Office Box 16165
Jackson, MS 39236-6165
(601) 362-4233
Since each piece of furniture is personally made for you and options
vary with your personal needs, oftentimes calling is still the best way. However, if
you still want to email, please feel free to do so:
