Owl Storytelling Chair — Hand-Carved Oak

The Owl Storytelling Chair is a hand-carved solid oak throne with a majestic barn owl watching over every story told from its seat — one of the most striking chairs in our range, and one that children never quite stop looking at.

The barn owl is carved in relief across the full height of the backrest, wings tucked, head turned, with the kind of calm authority that seems to say a story is about to begin. Schools and libraries tell us it changes the atmosphere of a room the moment it arrives — children sit differently in it, speak differently from it, and treat story time as the serious and magical thing it should be.

The finish keeps the carved detail crisp and the wood warm through all seasons — equally at home in a school library corner or a forest school garden.

Dimensions

• Total height: 170 cm
• Total width: 80 cm
• Inside seat width (back): 42 cm
• Inside seat width (front): 50 cm
• Seat height: 46 cm

Key Features

• Hand-carved barn owl backrest — carved in full relief, wings tucked, with feather detail across the full height
• Sustainably sourced solid British oak — built for indoor and outdoor use, year-round in school settings
• Choose your finish — supplied unvarnished as standard, or add three coats of Epifanes yacht varnish for lasting colour and sheen (+£50)
• Adult proportions — 46 cm seat height and wide armrests, designed for teachers and storytellers
• Handmade in Mid Wales — pairs beautifully with our mushroom stools to complete a storytelling corner

Your Version

We can carve your school's name, badge, or a dedication into the seat or back. The owl can also be changed to a different bird — a red kite, a raven, a puffin, or whatever species means something to your school or setting. We have made versions with school crests incorporated into the wings and perch. Tell us your idea and we will sketch it out before any carving begins.

Typical lead time is 4–5 weeks, though we can work around tight deadlines. Prices include VAT. Schools can order by purchase order and pay on invoice — once your order is placed, it is confirmed and booked in. If your school or trust needs to register us as a supplier first, we will provide everything needed: VAT number, bank details, address and any other information required.

Read about the original owl storytelling chair commission in the workshop blog, explore the full storytelling chairs collection, or see our Stag and Rabbit chairs for more wildlife designs. You can also design your own chair from scratch.

Finish

This piece is supplied unvarnished as standard. Left natural, solid oak slowly weathers to a soft, silvery-grey — completely normal for outdoor timber, a graceful way for a piece to age, and with no maintenance needed. If you’d prefer to bring out the grain and warm, honeyed tones, choose the varnished option (+£50) and we’ll hand-apply three coats of Epifanes, a premium marine yacht varnish.