Antique Rocking Chairs

Rockers and Stationary Chairs

Rocking chairs have many of the same traits as stationary chairs. For instance, they share some of the styles associated with antique furniture such as Colonial Revival, Hitchcock, Mission, Shaker and Eastlake. These are newer classifications though, because rocking chairs have not been around as long as stationary chairs.

Another difference between rockers and stationary chairs are the interesting designs linked to the movement of the chairs. Platform rockers, for instance, were popular during the nineteenth century. Their rockers are bound to the top of a platform with springs so they won’t ruin the carpet or mash toes.

History of Antique Rocking Chairs

The first rocking chairs were originally stationary chairs that had rockers added to them. Not until the early 1800s did chairs built with rockers became widespread. In addition, rocking chairs were particularly popular in the United States. It is a pertinent anecdote that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while sitting in a Victorian rocking chair at Ford’s Theatre.

Here are a few kinds of furniture known for their rocking chairs:

Windsor Rocking Chairs

Rocking chairs are often associated with the country and the outdoors. For instance, the common location for a rocker is a front porch. In the 1700s, Windsor-style chairs were in widespread use in rural parts of England and known as garden chairs. They have spindles running down their backs and armrests, and if they have rockers, their legs are fitted into them.

In America, though, the Windsor-style chair took on greater significance and became one of the most important chairs of the eighteenth century. Many of our Founding Fathers used Windsor chairs. In fact, Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of the American Windsor and its early craftsmen created many varieties of these chairs.

Bentwood Rocking Chairs

Another style of antique rocking chair was manufactured by the Thonet Brothers Manufacturers in Vienna, Austria during the mid-1800s. They bent soft beech wood to form their furniture. Thonet rockers are valuable and their designs are widely copied.

Wicker Rocking Chairs

You might come across the term synthetic fibers when looking into antique wicker rocking chairs. Around World War I, machines twisted paper to form these artificial wicker reeds.

It is also important to take notice of the designs woven into wicker rocking chairs. For instance, star-shaped or heart-shaped patterns, as well as figures such as boats, make them more desirable.

Antique Rocking Horses

Related to antique rocking chairs are rocking horses. Like baby cradles, they are much older than rocking chairs. In fact, medieval knights used to practice on them. Antique toy collectors, equestrian hobbyists, as well as those interested in wood sculpture, might also want to learn more about rocking horses.

• Antique rocking horses come with bridle, saddle and stirrups, while some are even covered with animal hide and have real horse hair for their mane and tail.

• A few important rocking horse manufactures from the mid-1800s are F.H. Ayres, Collins and Lines.

• One of the things to pay attention to when looking for quality antique rocking horses is the naturalness of the carved wood horse.

• Because they were once children’s toys and subjected to a great deal of wear, antique rocking horses are more valuable if they have their original rocker, intact ears and nose.

The Rocking Horse Shop has useful links about antique rocking horses.