Christopher Schwarz
Christopher Schwarz is an American woodworker, woodworking author, publisher, and founder of Lost Art Press.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Christopher Martin Schwarz is an American woodworker, writer, editor, publisher, and woodworking educator whose work centers on traditional hand-tool woodworking, historical furniture, workbenches, workshop practice, and self-reliant design. He is best known for combining practical making with detailed research into earlier woodworking traditions, and for presenting that knowledge through books, articles, videos, publishing, and direct engagement with the woodworking community. Schwarz was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 13, 1968, and grew up on a homestead farm in Haskell, Arkansas. He studied journalism, earning a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a master's degree from Ohio State University in 1993. His journalism training became an important foundation for his later work: rather than treating woodworking solely as a craft demonstration, he approached it through reporting, historical investigation, technical explanation, and editorial organization. After moving to Lexington, Kentucky, Schwarz worked in state-government reporting while developing his woodworking skills during evenings. In 1996 he moved to Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, and joined Popular Woodworking, initially as managing editor. He subsequently became the magazine's editor and wrote and edited books under the Popular Woodworking imprint. His work from this period helped establish a distinctive voice in contemporary woodworking publishing, emphasizing practical shop knowledge, traditional tools, furniture construction, and the relationship between design and use. His major publications include Build a Sawbench, Classic American Furniture, and the revised edition of Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use. These books address both specific projects and broader questions about how workshops and furniture should be designed. Schwarz's writing is particularly associated with hand-tool work and with the recovery of methods that can be useful to modern makers without requiring industrial-scale equipment. In 2007, Schwarz and John Hoffman established Lost Art Press in Covington, Kentucky. The independent publisher focuses on books and videos for woodworkers, especially those interested in hand tools, traditional furniture, historical techniques, and workshop design. Lost Art Press gave Schwarz a platform for publishing longer, more specialized work outside the constraints of a general-interest magazine. Its catalog has included The Anarchist's Design Book, Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding, and The Stick Chair Book. Schwarz left Popular Woodworking in 2011 to concentrate on Lost Art Press and his own woodworking business full time. This marked a transition from magazine leadership to an independent creator-publisher model in which research, design, making, teaching, and publishing operate together. His later work has continued to treat woodworking as both a practical discipline and a cultural tradition, with attention to durable construction, accessible tools, historical precedent, and the independence of the individual craftsperson. The Christopher Schwarz name functions primarily as a personal professional identity rather than as a conventional consumer brand. Its reputation is built through books, editorial work, instruction, woodworking projects, and the publishing activity of Lost Art Press. He is associated with a global English-language audience of woodworkers, hand-tool collectors, furniture makers, historians, and workshop enthusiasts. The available reference material does not identify a separate corporate ownership structure, public listing, financial figures, or formal brand family beyond his connection with Lost Art Press.
History
Christopher Martin Schwarz was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1968 and was raised on a homestead farm in Haskell, Arkansas. He pursued journalism rather than formal vocational training in woodworking, completing undergraduate study at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a master's degree in journalism at Ohio State University in 1993. His later approach to craft reflects that background: his books and articles generally combine practical instruction with reporting, historical context, and close attention to how tools and furniture are actually used. Schwarz moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where he covered state government as a journalist. Outside work, he began studying woodworking at night. In 1996 he moved to Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, and joined Popular Woodworking. He served as managing editor and later became editor, developing a substantial body of magazine work and producing books through the Popular Woodworking imprint. Among the works associated with this period were Build a Sawbench: With Christopher Schwarz, Classic American Furniture, and Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use. His editorial and authorial work helped make traditional woodworking accessible to modern hobbyists and professional makers. He wrote about hand tools, workholding, workbench construction, furniture design, and historically informed methods. Rather than presenting traditional techniques as museum pieces, Schwarz generally framed them as usable solutions for contemporary workshops. This emphasis became a recurring characteristic of his public identity. In 2007, Schwarz and John Hoffman founded Lost Art Press in Covington, Kentucky. The company was created as an independent publishing operation serving woodworkers and hand-tool enthusiasts. Its catalog has included books and videos dealing with historical workbenches, traditional furniture, shop design, and design principles for independent makers. The press allowed Schwarz to publish specialized material at greater length and with a clearer focus than a general woodworking periodical typically permits. Schwarz departed Popular Woodworking in 2011 and turned his attention full time to Lost Art Press and his own woodworking business. The change shifted his career from magazine editorial management toward an integrated role as author, researcher, publisher, designer, maker, and educator. His subsequent books included Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding, The Anarchist's Design Book, and The Stick Chair Book. These works broadened his contribution from project instruction to discussions of historical practice, workshop philosophy, furniture design, and the relationship between tools and craft independence. His professional identity remains closely linked to traditional and hand-tool woodworking. He has been described in specialist woodworking coverage as exceptionally prolific in the field, and his books are used by readers interested in furniture making, workshop construction, historical research, and practical hand skills. Public reference material identifies him as living in Covington, Kentucky, with his family. No separate corporate brand, public-company affiliation, or financial information is established in the supplied sources.
- 2011
Leaves Popular Woodworking
[1]Schwarz leaves Popular Woodworking to focus full time on Lost Art Press and his own woodworking business.
- 2007
Establishes Lost Art Press
[1]Schwarz and John Hoffman establish Lost Art Press in Covington, Kentucky, as an independent publisher serving woodworkers and hand-tool enthusiasts.
- 1996
Joins Popular Woodworking
[1]After working as a government reporter in Kentucky and studying woodworking independently, Schwarz joins Popular Woodworking in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
- 1993
Completes graduate journalism study
[1]Schwarz completes a master's degree in journalism at Ohio State University, following undergraduate journalism study at Northwestern University.
- 1968
Christopher Schwarz is born
[1]Christopher Martin Schwarz is born in St. Louis, Missouri, and later grows up on a homestead farm in Haskell, Arkansas.
Products and positioning
A research-driven, practical woodworking authority focused on traditional hand tools, historical furniture, workshop design, and independent craft publishing.
Woodworking book · 2010
Build a Sawbench: With Christopher Schwarz
A project-focused woodworking title centered on the construction and use of a sawbench. It represents Schwarz's early emphasis on practical shop furniture, efficient hand-tool work, and clear instruction for makers building their own workshop equipment.
Furniture-design book · 2014
Classic American Furniture
A book examining classic American furniture through designs, construction approaches, and woodworking context. The title reflects Schwarz's interest in historically grounded furniture that can be studied and built by contemporary woodworkers.
Workshop-design book · 2016
Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use
A substantial guide to workbench design, construction, and practical use. It treats the workbench as a central tool of the workshop and connects bench form with workholding, woodworking technique, and the needs of individual makers.
Woodworking history and technique book · 2018
Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding
A historical and technical study of early workbenches and workholding methods, produced with Megan Fitzpatrick and Nicholas Moegly. The book links historical evidence with practical insight for modern woodworkers interested in traditional shop technology.
Furniture-design and woodworking book · 2019
The Anarchist's Design Book
A design-oriented woodworking book associated with simple, durable furniture, accessible construction, and independence from industrial production. Its expanded edition develops Schwarz's argument that furniture design should serve durability, repairability, and the capabilities of the maker.
Furniture-making book · 2021
The Stick Chair Book
A guide to the design and construction of traditional stick chairs. It combines project instruction with discussion of proportions, materials, joinery, and the historical character of this form of seating.
Brand decisions
2011
Moves from magazine publishing to independent craft workStrategyBackground
After more than a decade associated with Popular Woodworking, Schwarz chose to concentrate on his own publishing and woodworking activities.
Action taken
He left Popular Woodworking and began focusing full time on Lost Art Press and his personal woodworking business.
Aftermath
His career became centered on independent publishing, historical woodworking research, book authorship, making, and education.
2007
Creates an independent woodworking publisherStrategyBackground
Schwarz's editorial and authorial work had established a focus on traditional woodworking, hand tools, and workshop practice, but specialist books and videos required a publishing platform centered specifically on that audience.
Action taken
He and John Hoffman founded Lost Art Press in Covington, Kentucky, creating an independent publisher for specialized woodworking books and videos.
Aftermath
Lost Art Press became the principal publishing platform associated with Schwarz's later books and expanded his role from magazine editor and author into independent publisher.
Sources2 sources
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