1

Stork Craft Hoop Glider and Ottoman Cushion, Cherry Wood and Beige Corduroy

This is not the fanciest glider, but for the money, this is a very good value. Packaged well, easy to put together, comfy, and does what you’d expect it to do. The pockets on the side are a nice touch for keeping books and other small items handy. Much better than a traditional rocker for the money. Especially since for this price, the Ottoman is included. That’s a nice bonus!

2

Stork Craft Tuscany Glider and Ottoman, Espresso/Beige

Don’t Buy this glider. It squeaks so badly that its unbearable to use. When I first received it came with two of the same side arm cushions, no big deal they sent me the correct one right away. Then the base cracked. Again they sent me a new one no problem. After using for a few days it started to squeak so badly that it was torture to use and certainly not ideal for trying to rock a newborn to sleep. I called and called over several days and no answer. I was finally able to get communication over email but they never answered any of my questions. (I asked If the replacement base was made differently so it wouldn’t squeak) but just to show proof of purchase in order for them to send another base. Finally they sent a new one and just as I suspected it started to squeak with in 20 minutes of use. Im so disappointed. Now i have to find a box big enough to send it back to Amazon. This is such a hassle.

3

Gift Mark Adult Rocking Chair, Cherry

My mom is a short person, so her feet do not always touch the floor when she sets in a chair. This was the perfect size for her!

4

Graco Avalon Glider with Ottoman, Espresso

soft.. and sweet.. and easy to put together… cheapest ottoman/glider set i found and works GREAT.. took my hubby less than 20 min to put together.. and now i have to fight him for it if i’m NOT nursing at the moment!

AND all the cushions come off for easy cleaning.. YEAH

5

Jack Post KN-22W Knollwood Classic Wood Rocking Chair, Gloss White

VERY cheaply made and one of them was broken upon arriving. Not worth the money.

6

Carolina Cottage Hudson Rocker, Cherry

Very nice rocker, very sturdy, exactly what was described! Was well-packaged and did not get harmed during the shipping process.

Very nice!

7

Teacher Rocking Chair

The chair arrived packed poorly and with no assembly instructions except a single piece of paper with a few faded and incomprehensible diagrams on it.

When I tried to put it together, the bolts did not fit the nuts that were provided and I finally had to give up.

Very cheap looking material and certainly not worth the price.

8

Gift Mark Child?s Colonial Rocking Chair, Cherry

I bought this for my grandaughter and was impressed with the quality and the quick delivery.

9

Kidkraft Spindle Rocking Chair – Cherry

I ordered two of these for two grandchildren for their first birthday (it’s a tradition), and am very pleased with the quality and appearance. Additionally, they arrived at lightning speed. They needed to be assembled, but that was so simple. It was a matter of putting two parts together with the included nuts, bolts, and wrench. In fact, our 6-year-old grandchild helped. I have also order rocking horses from KidKraft – again great quality and appearance

10

Mission Style Wood & Leather Rocking Chair Rocker

This chair was very easy to assemble and seems to be very sturdy. It is quite comfortable and looks fantastic! I am very happy with the purchase. ]]> http://www.rockingchairscentral.com/uncategorized/rocking-chairs/feed/ 1 http://www.rockingchairscentral.com/articles/rocking-chair-brands/ http://www.rockingchairscentral.com/articles/rocking-chair-brands/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:04:15 +0000 Frank N. Brown http://www.rockingchairscentral.com/?p=10 One of the interesting things about rocking chairs is that they have such a long tradition that no single brand has isolated or dominated the market for their production. Many, many rocking chair brands produce high quality, well made, and attractive rocking chairs that work in both traditional decors and modern design schemes as well.

Early rocking chairs were developed, supposedly, by Ben Franklin. They were then produced by cabinetmakers and other woodworkers. Because of this, and because many more people were skilled in the art of woodworking at that time, many people who made their own furniture also made their own rocking chairs. The art was widespread and very popular, as the rocking motion was soothing to young babies, but also to hardworking adults relaxing after a long day.

Today, it is not the rocking chair brand that matters so much as the design and construction of the chair itself. However, there are a few brands that have either focused their attention specifically on rocking chairs and other wooden crafts, or who have produced some unique rocking chairs that are somewhat individualistic compared to other chairs for sale.

• Stacks on Stacks offers one of the largest selections of traditionally-inspired wooden rocking chairs. From classic, brown, wooden, high-backed rocking chairs to more contemporary designs (such as a bright green, Adirondack backed rocking chair), these are almost all solid wood and represent a modern diversity of traditionally-grounded rocking chair styles.
• Shermag is quite different, as most of their rocking chairs are famous for being upholstered. Also called “gliders” because they don’t always rock, but often glide fore and aft, remaining level (rather than tipping), Shermag’s rocking chairs are stuffed thoroughly and are regularly marketed toward expecting parents to keep in the nursery, so the parent can stay comfortable while nursing or calming a newborn.
• Guidecraft has distinguished themselves by creating children’s rocking chairs. Rocking chairs for kids are, of course, much smaller than those for adults. Guidecraft’s chairs come in bright colors and patters, all painted carefully and thoroughly to create a very sturdy, yet very fun rocking chair for children to use.

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.

By far the most popular type of non-wood rocking chair is the upholstered rocking chair. Upholstered rocking chairs often look much like regular upholstered chairs, and many even recline. They simply have rocking mechanisms inside, so they look like regular chairs but happen to rock as well.

Now, in many cases, there is still wood involved with upholstered rocking chairs, especially in the chair’s frame (even if the rocking components are not wooden rockers, but metal springs or gliders). The point is that wood is not the major visual element in upholstered gliders, nor is it the surface that you sit on. This is ideal both if you don’t like the look of wooden rocking chairs, or if you just want something a bit more comfortable.

If you want the simplicity of a wooden rocking chair, not the bulk of an upholstered rocking chair, yet wood doesn’t match your more modern décor, then there are a few options for you. Probably your best bet is still opting with a wooden chair, but one that has a more metallic-toned finish. For example, FY Bentwood makes a very contemporary rocking chair of solid wood, but the wood has a platinum-stain finish and the back and seat of the chair are covered in a minimalistic, very modern cloth.

Another option, especially if your rocking chair will be more decorative than functional, is a wrought iron chair. This is most likely to be used as a lawn decoration, as the weight and roughness of the material don’t lend it to indoor use, but do know that if you want a rocking chair and don’t want wood, there are several options available to you.

Traditional Rocking Chairs

The traditional rocking chair is, in all likely hood, the first thing you picture when you summon up a rocking chair in your mind. These chairs have been made of wood for over 200 years, and their origin is believed to have come from the inventive mind of Benjamin Franklin himself. He wanted a chair in which he could lean and shift his weight without risk of tipping over, so he simply affixed a regular, wooden, straight-backed chair with wooden rockers.

Two hundred years alter, we’re still making wooden rocking chairs in much the same manner. The benefit of a traditional chair is that, depending on the style you get, it will go well with almost any décor, very much like retro dining chairs. Many different types of wood are made into these chairs, and it is now popular to paint or stain a finish onto the chair, so you can fine-tune its hue to your home. Traditional rocking chairs work well in a nursery, but are often found in sitting rooms as well.

Contemporary Rocking Chairs

The contemporary rocking chair takes the appeal of the soothing rocking motion, but updates the chair itself. Many of the most popular contemporary rocking chairs add padding or full upholstery. Often, a more metallic, modern finish is applied to the chair, and the design takes a more minimal style, with modern angles or curves rather than traditional, sometimes more ornate designs.

Also, contemporary rocking chairs often do not have actual rockers. They may instead be built as gliders, which do not tip over as easily and remain level rather than tilting as they move. Contemporary rocking chairs are also found in both nurseries and sitting rooms, but their style makes them suited to living rooms, year-round covered porches, and more.

Rocking chairs were first produced more numerously in the early 19th century, when they were made by cabinetmakers. Because cabinetmakers worked regularly with wood, it make sense for them to adapt regular chairs by adding two rockers, one to either side, thus converting the standard upright wooden chairs to rocking chairs.

The simplicity of the rocking chair (that it works by the sitter shifting his or her center of gravity) probably has much to do with why it was so successful to begin with, and also why it has remained popular.

Many traditional rocking chairs are still made today, and the simplistic wooden frame is the core of the most popular rocking chairs. However, their designs, wood types, and size have changed in some ways since those early chairs (many of which still exist as antique rocking chairs).

Modern rocking chairs are likely to have some sort of padding or upholstery. In some chairs, this is added after construction, as a detachable cushion on an otherwise freestanding wooden rocking chair. Yet other designs incorporate the padding more fully, with a fully upholstered plush chair that happens to have a rocking design.

Some modern rocking chairs are not even built on rockers, but rather on a strongly weighted swivel base that allows the sitter to change the direction. Still others are built on a sliding motion, where the chair slides fore and aft, remaining level (rather than tilting, as in the original rocking chair design). Often, these sliding rocking chairs are accompanied by a rocking footstool (also upholstered), allowing the person to reap the comfort of a recliner with the soothing motion of a rocking chair.