Many of Taranaki's first European settlers brought little in the way of furniture with them when they arrived here. However, several of them were competent carpenters and with a ready supply of timber were able to manufacture furniture for their new home. One such individual was William Sanders who arrived in New Plymouth in November 1841 on the Oriental. Sanders is known to have produced a number of chairs, six of which are in the Puke Ariki collection, of the 'Windsor-type' form. He utilized such native timbers as titoki, pukatea and rata vine. Many of the apparently lathe-turned parts appear, on closer examination, to have been shaped by spoke-shaving and are indicative of the skill he brought to the manufacture of these pieces of furniture.