Rocking Chairs Central

Posted By Frank N. Brown on December 7, 2009

Wooden rocking chairs have a rich history in America. Not only do they date back to the time of Benjamin Franklin, (who is believed to have invented them in the first place), but they are still very popular today. People appreciate the craftsmanship and style of antique rocking chairs, but are equally drawn toward new designs with more contemporary sensibilities taken into account. From old to new, small to large, and homemade to designer-made, wooden rocking chairs are a large part of American tradition, and probably will be for a very long time.

The first wooden rocking chair is attributed to Benjamin Franklin (who also gets credit for public libraries, bifocal lenses, and much much more). Wanting a chair that could tip back more smoothly than a four-legged chair, he attached rockers to a straight-backed chair. Early wooden rocking chairs are actually regular chairs with rockers attached.

As time went on and the chairs became more popular, the cabinetmakers who made them started creating rocking chairs designed to be such from the beginning. Often now, the legs are slightly angled apart, to better balance the weight of the sitter against the wooden rockers.

For a long time, the basic design of wooden rocking chairs stayed the same. Chairs and chair plans were passed down from generation to generation, sometimes along with a house or property, and sometimes as a nostalgic belonging that traveled with families as successive generation moved across the country.

Today, many wooden rocking chairs are still in use. Some of them are antiques, and a surprising number are brand new. Yes, wooden rocking chairs are still being made. While some people opt for densely upholstered rocking chairs, or graphite or other materials, very high quality wooden rocking chairs are made by hand-crafted woodworkers and national furniture chains alike.

Of course, some of the designs have been updated a bit. Ben Franklin would probably not have expected to see bright green, Adirondack style rocking chairs, or kid-sized bright pink princess rocking chairs. But these both exist, along side some beautifully made, traditionally-styled wooden rocking chairs that will doubtless last many generations as well.

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Tags: kids rocking chair, wooden rocking chairs