The history of the Windsor chair in Japan and Hida Sangyo have a deep connection.
The know-how developed through OEM production of the Windsor Chair, which was exported to the U.S. from 1950, became the foundation of Hida Sangyo today. Hokkaido Mingei Furniture, a legitimate member of the folk craft movement, has continued its manufacturing philosophy to this day.
As Hokkaido Mingei Furniture passed its 50th anniversary since its establishment in 1964, we would like to take this opportunity to take a fresh look at the origins of the “heart” and “technique” that Hida Sangyo has passed down to the next generation. With this in mind, we decided to trace back to the origins of the Windsor chair, which has been derived from a wide variety of sources up to the present day.

The beauty of the Oliver Goldsmith chair has been preserved.
The Oliver Goldsmith Chair was created 250 years ago in England, the birthplace of the Windsor chair. (produced 1760-1765) It is so called because it was owned by the playwright Oliver Goldsmith. We conducted a survey of the original chair at the Victoria and Albert Museum in England in collaboration with Professor Akiyoshi Totoki of the Department of Crafts and Industrial Design at Musashino Art University, and pursued a form that would enhance comfort while maintaining the beauty of the original. The symbolic shape, which is the origin of the product but has not faded away even today, and the details that are full of craftsmanship. “Goldsmith Windsor” is the original form of the Windsor chair for those who are interested in authenticity.