Roger Morris works on a wooden post inside Clore Furniture’s Madison County workshop. Since the 1950s, the family-owned company has handcrafted the iconic hardwood rocking chairs that line the University of Virginia’s Lawn.
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Nestled in the foothills of Madison County, Clore Furniture is a place where time seems to slow down, quality craftsmanship still matters and every piece tells a story.
Clore Furniture’s work can be found across the country, but its most familiar product may be the iconic hardwood rocking chair that generations of students living on the University of Virginia’s Lawn have enjoyed.
Some local artisans work from home to hand-weave the signature fiber rush seats found on the historic chairs, carefully twisting kraft paper cording into intricate patterns. The finished seats are then lacquered at the workshop to increase their durability. The artists help preserve a skill that is increasingly rare in today’s world of mass production, and the chairs are woven into the University’s historic visual identity.
Inside Clore Furniture’s workshop, time-honored craftsmanship remains at the heart of every piece. The company has survived fires, economic downturns and changing times while preserving the quality that has made its furniture a Virginia tradition.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Clore Furniture twice. Each trip left me with a deeper appreciation for the people whose hands and hearts have kept this family business thriving for nearly two centuries.
Founded in 1830, the business has been run by six generations of the Clore family. The company has weathered fires, economic downturns and changing times without sacrificing the quality that has made its furniture a Virginia tradition.
Craftsman Brandon Cassity readies a handcrafted Clore rocking chair for lacquering, one of the final steps before it leaves the workshop.
As a photographer, I preserve history through images. I realize how important the enduring legacy of these chairs is to the residents of the Lawn and the visitors who pass them every day. The chairs are a part of the fabric of the University, and visiting the factory made me appreciate the enduring Clore legacy.
Gary Jenkins, in the blue hat, and Charles Garr bend chair posts after steaming the hardwood, a process that creates the signature curves that have defined Clore rocking chairs for generations. Jenkins secures chair arms as the handcrafted rocking chairs begin to take shape.
Walking through the workshop, surrounded by stacks of carefully selected hardwoods and generations of woodworking knowledge, I thought about my grandfather’s workshop. Like so many artisans of his generation, he never threw away anything that might be useful. Nuts, bolts, nails and screws all had their place, neatly sorted into old Dutch Masters cigar boxes lining the shelves of his workbench. Seeing those same familiar cigar boxes at Clore Furniture took me back to childhood afternoons watching him repair, build and create with quiet patience.
Troy Coppage represents the sixth generation of the Clore family to operate the woodworking shop, where handcrafted hardwood furniture has been made since 1830.
More than a memory, it was a reminder that the best traditions pass from one generation to the next. Nostalgia echoes throughout every corner of Clore Furniture. Nothing feels rushed. Every chair, table and cabinet is built with the understanding that quality takes time. Customers willingly wait 18 to 20 months for their handcrafted furniture because they know they’re investing in something built to last.
Gary Morris, left, removes chair posts from a steam tank and places them in a bending stock, while Debbie Jenkins hand-weaves a fiber rush seat, a signature feature of Clore rocking chairs.
Today, the relationship with the University continues. Along with the signature rocking chairs, Clore craftspeople are producing new tables for the Rotunda and lent their expertise in refinishing tables for the Shannon Library renovation.
A sign outside Clore Furniture reflects the love for craftsmanship that has defined the family business for generations.
