Featured I would welcome any info on this Rocker

I found this worn old rocker in a cabin I bought in the Adirondacks some years ago. I moved it to my home in the Catskills where it sits lovingly in a corner of a spare bedroom, warts and all. Aside from occasional dusting, it remains in the same condition that I found it in. I know absolutely nothing about it, but I would appreciate anyone who could offer me information. Thank you!

 

Looks lovingly made as a project piece ca. 1900 or so by somebody who was not a furniture maker. They did their best, far better than I could do, but it's not quite up to professional standards. Ordinarily seats like this one are made of oak or oak veneer, but it's difficult to tell in this case.

Call it a folk piece. From what I can tell your decorating instincts are impeccable; it fills exactly the right place in your home.

 

Agree. Wonderful eye.

Debora

 

Just curious, @Cabrina -- Is it ever used? Is it comfortable for sitting, or not? It appears the back is angled backwards a bit.

 

If it was mine I'd call it: "A quaint plank seated rug cutter rocker, circa late 19th century". Regardless of how you label it, it's a neat piece that tells a story.

 

I just tried sitting on it maybe for the second time ever and the seat is very comfortable. It does angle back but again still within comfort. I had read that the added piece at the bottom back part of the seat was designed for nursing, (lower back position?) Maybe the back angle supports this possibility?

 

And no, no one sits on it.

 

Sorry, but I have to disagree with ghopper a little on this one. This looks to be a factory made, “Boston rocker” style chair from the mid 19th century or so. That 3 piece seat is very characteristic of that time and place, made somewhere in a factory in New England.

This is basically an evolution of the Windsor chairs which had previously been produced in New England. Boston rockers were all originally painted, so yours has been stripped paint at some point in its history.

I agree with ghopper that there was probably some owner rework at some point. In particular the top back rail looks to have been replaced, both because of its shape and because it is pinned from the front not the back. Could be an unusual rarely seen design, but I suspect it is a replacement. Sometimes you can tell the difference if there are remnants of paint history.

Most Boston rockers had arms, but there were some like this without. Here is one with a more traditional back rail (pay no attention to the price which is delusional): https://www.rubylane.com/item/1317328-757/Antique-Mission-Little-Boston-Rocker-Baby

 

Sorry for the late reply. I see that it is similar to the Boston Rockers with the exception of the top back rail. On a more detailed look, it shows several repairs. One repair, in particular, is a thin piece of metal wrapped around the bottom of one of the rockers and set in with tiny nails and stained over. I can see that it was done to prevent a crack from worsening. I'm happy to know I own this very old piece of American-made furniture and I like to think it must have been first owned by someone special and passed down and preserved with her memory in mind.