Thos. Moser Blog

In the four decades since Tom Moser founded our company, we’ve trained master craftspeople in our workshop, built chairs for universities, popes, and presidents, advised customers on everything from fabric choices to how many to seat at dinner and made countless friends along the way. Please enjoy some of our stories, advice, and musings below.

Interior Design Furniture Design Woodworking & Craft Advice & Education Customer Stories History Contract Projects

Interior Design

Design Spotlight with Jennifer Magdol

Posted

Located within San Francisco’s Golden Gate Heights neighborhood, this 1949 single-family home derives its inspiration from coastal forests and the Pacific Ocean.

Read More

Designing an Open-Concept Space Inspired by Moser Furniture

Posted

When a couple wanted to downsize they sold everything except their Moser furniture. We sat down with their designer, Marcye Philbrook, and asked her how she artfully designed and integrated elements of their existing Moser pieces to create a contemporary home.

Read More

Resimercial Design

Posted

Resimercial design blurs the lines of work and home by incorporating flexible spaces that double as a meeting space, a comfortable place for a quiet brainstorm or coffee break with colleagues that evoke a sense of comfort and shape how we view the modern workplace.

Read More

Furniture Design

The Birth of an Icon

Posted

In collaboration with The New York Public Library (NYPL), Thos. Moser designed a chair that is more than just a piece of furniture – it’s a symbol of the Library, its mission, and its vision for the future.

Read More

The Anticlastic Curve

Posted

In 2014, aboard a ferry from Portland, Maine, Tom and Mary Moser headed 185 nautical miles northeast to Nova Scotia. But it wasn't the scenery that caught Tom Moser's eye; it was the simple cafeteria chair he was sitting in.

Read More

The Mower that Moved Us

Posted

In a field along Cobb’s Hill Road, across from the old vestry that served as Thos. Moser's first showroom rests a rusted 1800's sickle bar mower.

Read More

The Ultimate ‘Chairness’

Posted

In 1977, Thos. Moser sold its first Windsor style chair: the Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair. Today, this chair serves as an icon synonymous with the Moser name.

Read More

A Thos. Moser Coloring Book

Posted

This coloring book is meant to bring the family together around the table or snuggled in by the fire with a cup of cocoa to share stories and that child-like wonder that makes it the most wonderful time of year.

Read More

The Omni Clock

Posted

Our latest accessory, the Omni Clock, is a nod to those traditional forms we first set out to create- rooted in functional utility and a celebration of the material. Inspired by Shaker designs, the clock features clean lines sculpted from solid North American cherry or walnut.  

Read More

The Island Stool

Posted

The Island Stool is a contemporary nod to the past, drawing inspiration from an old Shaker utility stool found in Tom and Mary Moser’s first home in Maine, a 200-year-old farmhouse in New Gloucester.

Read More

The Unity Table

Posted

The Unity Table design echoes themes seen in mid-century modern design, where it derives its form through its elegant dedication to purpose. We have embraced these tenets and created a table that demonstrates our admiration for the strength and beauty inherent in furniture hand-crafted from solid wood.

Read More

The Studio Collection

Posted

Our new Studio Collection is nothing short of a study in our design philosophies of clean, simple lines, discreet integration, and utilization of traditional joinery. Designed with cues from their namesake bed, the logical evolution of our new Studio cases and side tables share the same visible bridle joinery and light footprint.

Read More

The Mark of a Modern-Day Heirloom

Posted

Form, shape, and patterns are the intrinsic characteristics of solid wood furniture. With no two pieces of wood exactly alike, every piece of furniture has its own unique identity. These nuances, crafted by nature and finished by hand, create furniture destined to be a one-of-a-kind, modern-day heirloom.

Read More

New Products for Spring 2019

Posted

When considering new pieces to add to our collection, we are often inspired by a combination of historical references, customer ideas, and gaps in our lineup. Our latest designs are no exception.

Read More

Woodworking & Craft

Building a Family Tradition

Posted

There is a piece of furniture within the Moser catalog that immediately stands out for each of us. It invokes a familiar feeling of comfort, childhood memories and feels like it was specifically designed just for us. This is precisely how a member of our customer care team felt when they walked through the lobby doors at Thos. Moser and saw the child's size Continuous Arm Rocker.

Read More

Wood Moves: Crafting Receptive Designs

Posted

Building with solid wood takes patience and a deep appreciation of its mercurial nature to create a result that will last a lifetime. Each wood species has its own unique personality, growth pattern, and tendencies to react to the elements in different ways.

Read More

Great-Grandpa Joe’s Bookshelf

Posted

There is a reason we call these pieces heirlooms- they’re the keepers of our family’s history. While the design of Joseph Moser’s bookshelf may be simple, it’s a physical symbol that represents the continuity and love of four generations of the Moser family.

Read More

An enduring symbol of family and craft

Posted

For Tom Moser, the American flag evokes a uniquely personal feeling and sense of connection, and at the end of the day, it holds a more profound, unified meaning of family and craft.

Read More

Tom Moser’s American Flag

Posted

As humans, creation and the capacity to create are in our DNA. These creations spark joy within oneself and have the ability to unify the human spirit. For Tom Moser, the spark that led him to craft his artistic rendition of the American Flag came from a photograph of a wooden flag and a gentle nudge from a friend.

Read More

Inside the Thos. Moser Workshop

Posted

The Thos. Moser workshop is a playground to the makers who call it home. Every piece of our furniture starts its journey in this 80,000 square foot facility in Auburn, Maine. Join us for a peek inside.

Read More

Ash: the right wood in all the right places

Posted

With its straight grain and exceptional strength, ash has long been a staple in the legs of chairs, rockers, and benches throughout our collections. Balancing its strength, ash is also remarkably resilient-- providing just the right "give" to make a spindle Thos. Moser chairback every bit as comfortable as it is beautiful.

Read More

A Celebration of the American Forest

Posted

Since the beginning, Thos. Moser has considered the materials we work as the essential element to success in furniture making. As woodworkers, our materials are inseparable from the environment. In this respect, we have released a special live-edge edition of the Eastward Bench to further express the gratitude we feel towards our materials

Read More

Joinery: Beauty and Durability in Equal Parts

Posted

Exceptional joinery is a celebration of craftsmanship that we expose whenever possible. Properly formed, it works on every level and leaves nothing to hide.

Read More

The Beauty in Board Matching

Posted

Board matching is the subtle art of selecting rough-hewn slabs of wood to match wood grain and color, making the difference between a nice piece of furniture and an exquisite piece of furniture.

Read More

Fostering the Next Generation of New England Craftsmen

Posted

Read More

Cherry: Beauty Over Time

Posted

Read More

Veneer: A Conversation with Bob Cabral

Posted

Read More

Mortise and Tenons: A conversation with Andy Pinkham

Posted

The mortise and tenon is one of the classics of woodworking joinery and one of the oldest forms of joinery in the world.

Read More

Dovetails: A Conversation with Tim Sirois

Posted

Craftsman Tim Sirois discusses why the dovetail joint is integral to Thos. Moser design, and what it takes to master this woodworking technique.

Read More

Advice & Education

How to Clean Your Hardwood Furniture

Posted

Read More

5 Benefits of an Adjustable Height Desk

Posted

Read More

Creating an Elevated Table Setting this Holiday Season

Posted

Read More

A Styled Approach to Mixing Wood Species

Posted

Read More

4 Expert Tips for Picking the Right Upholstery

Posted

Read More

Selecting the Right Table for Any Space

Posted

Read More

Choosing a Bed at Thos. Moser

Posted

Read More

Guidelines for Selecting a Stool

Posted

Read More

Customer Stories

Crafted for a Life at Sea

Posted

For us, every delivery is special, but some are truly memorable— such was the case when we delivered a custom pair of Harpswell Chairs and Wing Ottoman and were invited aboard the charismatic skipper's yacht. 

Read More

More Than a Signature

Posted

It was upon closer inspection customer David M. discovered that his chair had a unique marking.

Read More

A Lifetime Collection

Posted

“My first purchase from Thos. Moser was a 1986 catalog. I remember sending my $4.00 and spending a lot of time looking through the pages. The catalog was beautiful, and it reflected the company’s attention to craftsmanship,” Linda said. “I still have every catalog I’ve ever received.”

Read More

A Squeak of Reassurance

Posted

When customers Karen and Steve were expecting their first child, they treated themselves to a Moser rocker. But when a subtle squeak sounded with each rock, Karen called Moser customer service. She never expected who would come to her door and inspect her squeaky rocker.

Read More

The Heart of the Household

Posted

The table joined the family in 2008. “It was a time when my husband wasn’t traveling a lot for work. We had dinner there every night as a family, and it was special. We lingered longer, laughed harder, and the experience amplified the table’s meaning. It really was part of the family,” says Vivienne.

Read More

The Artist’s Choice

Posted

“We didn’t want to purchase something that wouldn’t last – and we didn’t want to compromise on a style we didn’t like.” After pondering their research, the two artists returned to the craftsmen whose work they already knew well and selected two High Stools.

Read More

A Place to Retire: English Charm meets California Coastal

Posted

There is an intertwining of cool blues and warm wooden tones throughout the house, a nod to the ocean and Maine woods. Large windows allow the landscape to filter inward to create a welcoming oasis that allows them to take a deep breath and watch the worries of the world drift away.

Read More

COASTAL COTTAGE DESIGNED BY THE OWNERS’ DAUGHTER OFFERS MODERN RETREAT

Posted

The moment you turn down the nearly 1/2 mi private driveway to the Jennings cottage, you know you are about to experience something magical.

Read More

Lieutenant’s Chest

Posted

Read More

CIR: Memories and Furniture made by the Kuenstner Family

Posted

Read More

A Collector’s Approach to Downsizing

Posted

Read More

Inspiring Young Minds: St. Timothy’s Students in the Workshop

Posted

Randy Stevens, Head of St. Timothy's School, sends a group of students to our Auburn workshop for an immersive learning experience.

Read More

Customers

Posted

For our first few years in business, our primary method of advertising was word of mouth. Learn about how Thos. Moser's customers grew organically into a community that appreciates quality and fine craft.

Read More

History

Unwrapping Innovation

Posted

Dr. Heibert said, "I want a wheel made entirely of native oak, in the old-world style. No plywood, just oak to age in dignity. Of course, it needs to be perfectly balanced to drive a wooden set of gears and power a generator. Can you do it?"

Read More

The Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair, An Icon of Evolutionary Design

Posted

Read More

Passing on the Skills of Woodworking

Posted

Read More

The Moser’s First Maine Christmas

Posted

Read More

Telling the Tale

Posted

As Tom evolved from teacher to woodworker, he used his skills to continue to educate the next generation of craftsmen.

Read More

Books & Wood

Posted

In a library, one is inspired to levels of greater inquiry by those billions of words. Furniture for such a compelling environment should reflect that spirituality and sense of timelessness.

Read More

Contract Projects

Building Big Tables: A Union of Traditional Woodworking and Modern Technology

Posted

Read More

Honoring Legacy at St. Timothy’s School

Posted

Read More

University of Georgia, Terry College of Business

Posted

Read More

The Lawrenceville School: Abbott Dining Hall

Posted

Read More

A Custom Credenza With Reclaimed Stained Glass

Posted

Read More

Inspiring Young Minds: St. Timothy’s Students in the Workshop

Posted

Randy Stevens, Head of St. Timothy's School, sends a group of students to our Auburn workshop for an immersive learning experience.

Read More

St. Timothy’s School: Five Arts and Student Center

Posted

St. Timothy’s, an all-girls high school established in 1882 and located in Stevenson, Maryland, is embarking on its most significant modernization and building transformation project in the school’s history

Read More

Thos. Moser and St. Timothy’s School

Posted

There is nothing we love more than when residential customers share their love of Moser furniture with their institutions and businesses. St. Timothy’s Head of School Randy Stevens is one those special customers.

Read More

Harvard Business School

Posted

Over the last 45-years, we have built chairs for presidents, chairs for popes, chairs for poets, and chairs for some of the nation’s leading universities.

Read More