Dard Hunter today lives in the house his renowned grandfather purchased in 1919. Dard Hunter Sr., a Roycroft artisan, designed everything from stained-glass windows, furniture, and jewelry to title pages for Elbert Hubbard. He wrote 20 books on the history of paper, printing eight here, at Mountain House Press.
The Hunters were a prestigious Ohio family. Dard’s great-grandfather, William Henry Hunter, had been a 19th-century businessman, owner of the local newspaper and co-founder of an art pottery. Later, Dard Hunter Jr. carried on his father’s tradition in the decorative arts, working as a museum curator at Winterthur and becoming a talented cabinetmaker.
Dard III grew up with an artistic eye, too, and a love of old houses. He opened Dard Hunter Studios in 1994. He began by reproducing iconic imagery on his grandfather’s Washington hand press, using their own handmade paper, with a line of cards and stationery. The company carries tiles from Motawi Tileworks, who have interpreted Dard’s designs. The company also produces quarter-sawn white-oak frames, each individually cut, mitered, and joined using traditional methods. In 2004, they moved into an 1835 warehouse in downtown Chillicothe, allowing them to install a full millwork shop. The company mills architectural mouldings for both older homes and new construction, specializing in replicating period profiles. A storefront shop displays tiles, prints, pottery, china, and jewelry, all inspired by Dard Hunter Sr.’s work.
With the passing of time, Dard says, he’s come to appreciate more and more the ideals of his forbears. All of them believed in making the world a more beautiful place with fine craftsmanship and good design.
DARD HUNTER III
Dard Hunter Studios
Chillicothe, Ohio
(740) 779-3300
dardhunter.com
Brian D. Coleman, M.D., is the West Coast editor for Arts & Crafts Homes and Old House Journal magazines, our foremost scout and stylist, and has authored over 20 books on home design.
