Featured My first rocking chair! What is it?

Hi! So excited to find this community after getting my first rocking chair.

A generous neighbor gave it to me thru my local Buy Nothing Group. She mentioned having got it at a flea market in VA several years ago and being told it was a teak mid-century rocket. I was planning to clean and oil it, but I quickly realized I have no idea what I’m doing so it might be best to figure out what I have first.

height: 43.5”
Depth of the legs: 34.5”
Depth of seat: 17.25”
Width:21”

Any help with figure out who made this or what the best way to maintain this would be greatly appreciated. I couldn't find any marks on the back, seat or legs to indicate who might have made it or what kind of wood it is.

I love it regardless of its monetary value. But I don’t want to mess it up.

thanks in advance!

 

Does look like teak and I would guess Scandinavian in origin, though Yugoslavia made similar unbranded chairs. I would clean it well before oiling. Make a mixture of soap and water (oil soap is best) and wipe with a damp rag. Try not to get too wet. If there are any areas that do not come clean, you might try some mineral spirits to see if that cuts it. Any rough areas can be sanded lightly. I see you have a split at one leg where it joins the rocker. Inject some wood glue and clamp, wiping off any excess glue thoroughly.

Otherwise, once dry, you can oil it. A good tung oil product or teak oil would work well. Apply with a rag. You may need multiple coats. Keep applying untill it won't take any more. You will find areas that absorb the oil and dry faster than areas that don't absorb it. Wipe any excess of the unabsorbed areas before applying each coat. Once oiled, give it a few days to dry before applying a good coat of paste wax.

 

Thank you so much for all the advice and excited to give this a try! You've got an eagle eye! I didn't even notice that crack. Thank you for pointing it out to me. Just in case my hubby veto's my plan, how much do you think a reasonable furniture restorer might charge for this kind of work? My poor hubby has had to deal with his fair share of messes with my various diy projects.

 

Haven't paid anyone to work on furniture ever in my life so wouldn't know. Likely more than the chair is worth. This is a pretty easy project so give it a go. If the crack doesn't affect the stability, you need not fix it.

 

Screaming for a Marimekko pillow... or two!

Debora

 

If your hubby gives you the go-ahead, will you post photos of the result? It is a lovely rocking chair, badly in need of some tlc.