By using this site you agree to the use of cookies. For other uses, see Rocking Chair (disambiguation). A rocking chair or rocker is a type of chair with two curved bands (also known as rockers) attached to the bottom of the legs, connecting the legs on each side to each other. The rockers contact the floor at only two points, giving the occupant the ability to rock back and forth by shifting their weight or pushing lightly with their feet.[2] Rocking chairs are most commonly made of wood. Some rocking chairs can fold. The word rocking chair comes from the verb to rock.[3] The first known use of the term rocking chair was in 1766. A rocking chair designed by Swedish painter and furniture designer, Karin Bergöö Larsson Rocking chairs are often seen as synonymous with parenting, as the gentle rocking motion can soothe infants. Many adults find rocking chairs soothing because of the gentle motion. Gentle rocking motion has been shown to provide faster onset of sleep than remaining stationary, mimicking the process of a parent rocking a child to sleep.
Rocking chairs are also comfortable because, when a user sits in one without rocking, the chair automatically rocks backward until the sitter's center of gravity is met, thus granting an ergonomic benefit with the occupant kept at an un-stressed position and angle. Varieties of rockers include those mounted on a spring base (or platform) called "platform rockers" and those with swinging braces commonly known as gliders. A photo of man lounging in a rocking chair while reading Though American inventor Benjamin Franklin is sometimes credited with inventing the rocking chair, historians actually trace the rocking chair's origins to North America during the early 18th century, when Franklin was a child. Originally used in gardens, they were simply ordinary chairs with rockers attached. It was in 1725 that early rocking chairs first appeared in England. The production of wicker rocking chairs reached its peak in America during the middle of the 18th century. These wicker rockers, as they were popularly known, were famous for their craftsmanship and creative designs.
Michael Thonet, a German craftsman, created the first bentwood rocking chair in 1860.[8] This design is distinguished by its graceful shape and its light weight. These rocking chairs were influenced by Greek and Roman designs as well as Renaissance and colonial era artistry. During the 1920s, however, folding rocking chairs became more popular in the United States and in Europe. They were handy for outdoor activities and travel purposes. By the 1950s, rocking chairs built by Sam Maloof, an American craftsman, became famous for their durability and deluxe appearance. Maloof's rocking chairs are distinguished by their ski-shaped rockers. President John F. Kennedy made the P & P Chair Company's rocking chair famous. In 1955, Kennedy, who suffered with chronic back problems, was prescribed swimming and the use of a rocking chair by his physician. The President so enjoyed the rocker that, after he was inaugurated in 1961, he took the chair on Air Force One when he traveled around the country and the world.
He bought additional rockers for Camp David and for the Kennedy estates; and he gave them as gifts to friends, family, and heads of state. Kennedy's rocking chair from the White House is on permanent display at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Per the manufacturing design, the Kennedy Rocking Chair is shaped, steam-bent, and assembled while the wood is still "green." Media related to Rocking chairs at Wikimedia CommonsTheres something about gently swinging or swaying in a comfortable rocking chair or glider that can relieve the stress of the day and put your mind and body at ease. Our wide selection of solid wood Amish Rockers and Gliders includes pieces featuring the classic Mission and Shaker styles that have been a fixture in American homes for generations. Youll also find an assortment of ottomans and footstools theres something for every home!You probably remember your parents or grandparents spending a relaxing afternoon in a rocking chair or glider. Most of us were carefully rocked to sleep when we were babies in these wonderful chairs.
The smooth motion naturally calms and soothes, which is why, for hundreds of years, rocking chairs have been a staple in American homes. The Shaker and Mission-style wooden rockers and gliders are especially prized for their beautiful design and robust construction.When you purchase any piece of Amish hardwood furniture, you’re buying it for life. Our Amish artisans don’t make disposable furniture — they leave that to the mass-producers who churn out identical copies as cheaply as possible, with little concern for how the piece will stand up to years of use. This is especially troubling in the case of a rocker or glider, which, thanks to the repetitive motion, are subject to more wear and tear than other types of chairs.Mass-produced rockers and gliders are often made in foreign countries, as well. When you buy an American-made Amish hardwood glider rocker, your hard-earned money stays in America, and goes to support hardworking American families who are carrying on traditions that have been celebrated since the middle of the 1800s.
The Amish craftsmen who build this beautiful furniture use only quality hardwood sourced from the Northern states. They never use laminated or composite wood in their rocker gliders, because they know that you want the best for your family, and to keep your Mission or Shaker hardwood chair for generations.It’s a safe bet that the Amish men and women who put their talent and energy into manufacturing these chairs have a similar rocker or glider in their own homes!We Still Make Furniture the Old-Fashioned WayModern furniture-making processes tend to emphasize quantity instead of quality. , we take the opposite approach. We employ the services of the finest Amish artisans who still make furniture the old-fashioned way: one piece at a time and completely by hand. This ensures we only produce high-quality furniture that exceeds our customers expectations. Everything from the materials and fabrication methods to the application of the rich stains is done according to the traditions of Amish people who have perfected the art of building the perfect rocker or glider.
We never use cheap materials in our pieces, either. You get to choose from sturdy northern kiln-dried hardwoods such as maple, cherry and hickory. You can customize and personalize your Amish rocker or glider right here on our site. Simply start by choosing the style that interests you the most. Maybe you like the wide Swanback loveseat with room for two, or a more compact Lincoln rocker that’s a perfect fit for baby’s room. Other popular models include the Bentley, Lewis and Sheaf back. We also have models that swivel as well as glide, giving you the absolute best in comfort.Many of our beautiful glider models can be had with a matching footstool for the utmost in gliding comfort. It’s impossible NOT to feel relaxed and peaceful in a traditional Amish glider! Some models have padded seats available in a multitude of materials and fabrics. The same attention-to-detail and traditional methods go into every aspect of our Amish gliders and rockers, including the woodworking, assembly, staining and upholstery.