IF you've got a spare thousand pounds or several hanging around, you could do worse than invest in a Jim Norris chair.

The name might not be instantly recognisable, but the man behind it is fast following in the footsteps of another, fairly

well-known Otley furniture maker who was also renowned for his chairs.

For Jim Norris, of Grange View, is one of a highly-select band of craftsmen and designers to have been awarded a Guild Mark from the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers.

And this month his showpiece - the Tennessee rocking chair - goes on display in London for a celebration of the company's 40th anniversary.

During that time no more than 180 Guild Marks have been

handed out. What makes Jim's achievement all the more remarkable is that the American Black Walnut Tennessee is the first rocking chair he really attempted.

"It was the first one I really devoted time and effort to," he says. "It took six weeks to make. I can make them in less time now, but then I hadn't done one before and it had to be exactly right."

Submitting it for the Guild Mark was Jim's way of deciding his future in the trade.

An engineer by trade, spells as a business manager, a social

worker and a teacher followed before he turned his hobby into a job.

"If you can get an award from the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers then you have attained the highest level of quality.

"It's not easy, you can't just apply and be granted the Guild Mark. I always knew that if I could get it, I would be well on my way in the business. It proves something to customers and also to myself.

"I always thought that if I could only make mediocre furniture then it wasn't worth it. If I

wasn't capable of making as good furniture as was possible, then I didn't want to do it at all."

The company got in touch with Jim shortly before Christmas 1997 to ask if he would submit the chair for the 'Celebration of Excellence' exhibition which is being held in Phillips' Showrooms on Bond Street from August 3 to 27.

There, Jim's creation will sit alongside some of the top designs in the country, and will also feature in a reference book which is to be published as a result of the event.

"I think it will get me some work because this has an international audience. A lot of this

business is through word-of-mouth and recommendations," says Jim.

Now we've all seen rocking chairs - old, dark oak versions usually occupied by nodding grannies by the fire - or, more frequently, overly-decorated modern pine ones which are

ten-a-penny in shops across the country, favoured by soccer

players in Mock Tudor

mansions.

A Jim Norris rocking chair,

however, is an entirely different concept. Sleek, unusual and modern, his top designs would not look out of place in the furnishings department of Harrods or Selfridges.

They are made from the most beautiful wood, with different types intertwined and joins made prominent with ebony.

"I always try to make the joins into a feature, particularly as good furniture has to be jointed properly. People do appreciate that and they are willing to wait for a piece because they know the skill and work that goes into it. Everything about every chair is hand-sculpted," says Jim.

And while a copy of the celebrated Tennessee would cost you in the region of £5,000 (the one in Phillips' would retail at £5,350), he has extended his range to around six or seven other designs with prices starting at £400.

By choosing a more affordable version however, customers won't find themselves with a chair of any less style or quality. And Jim will make them to meet individual needs - even with more upright, straight-backed rocking chairs designed to help back problems.

"The chairs are very comfortable, very modern and I purposely don't make them in a traditional style. It's actually more difficult to keep lines simple and clean than it is to do the fancy swirls you see on rocking chairs in pine shops," he says.

"They can be made to suit individual needs - I have back trouble, being a furniture maker, so I'll make them with very straight backs, if that's what someone wants.

"I've had a favourable response to the Tennessee chairs over the years, I've sold about six but it is an expensive chair which sells for thousands of pounds. Now I'm a lot more into designing a full range of them so more people can afford to buy one."

Not for Jim an ostentatious trademark on the piece. But if in years to come you think you've come across a genuine 'Norris', there's an easy way to tell. Jim burns his name and the date discreetly under the seat of the chair.

As well as the pride the accolade has brought him, Jim remains satisfied at doing a job he obviously enjoys. He admits: "I am fortunate that I've been able to turn a hobby into my livelihood."

l To contact Jim Norris, telephone (01943) 467231.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.