Solid Oak Splat-Back Dining Chairs, Set of Two, Matte Black

This is a pair of solid oak dining chairs measuring 18.5 inches deep by 21 inches wide by 32 inches tall, with an 18-inch seat height that fits a standard 30-inch dining table. They are armless and open-backed, which is what lets a set of four or six sit around a table without the room reading as crowded.

The frames are kiln-dried solid oak, not veneered engineered wood, and that matters more on a dining chair than on almost any other piece of furniture: a dining chair takes lateral force every time somebody pushes back from the table, and that is where laminated frames loosen at the joints. Kiln drying is the step that stops the wood from moving with humidity after it leaves the factory. The seat is shaped wood rather than upholstery, so there is no fabric to stain during a meal. Non-scratch floor caps are fitted to the leg ends.

The finish is a flat black paint over the oak, and the grain still reads through it in the right light rather than disappearing under a plastic-looking coat. The back is a low curved crest rail carried on two slim vertical splats, with tapered legs splayed slightly outward. Assembly is limited to attaching the four legs and takes about ten minutes per chair.