Antique Old Hickory Furniture Rocking Arm Chair No. 21 Rocker Adirondack Lodge
About the Item
- Creator:Old Hickory Furniture Company (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33.5 in (85.09 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 23 in (58.42 cm)Seat Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)
- Style:Adirondack (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1930s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very Good; some edge wear to the rattan along the seat.
- Seller Location:Dayton, OH
- Reference Number:
Old Hickory Furniture Company
In the early 1890s, before his Old Hickory Furniture Company was formally incorporated, Billy Richardson was selling handmade rocking chairs in the town square of Martinsville, Indiana. His designs used hickory saplings that were the perfect combination of pliable and durable, making them ideal for creating graceful, comfortable and long-lasting furniture. This style of “twig furniture” or “rustic furniture” had become popular with the romanticization of escaping to nature in the 19th century, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains.
Reportedly, a young Richardson and his father crafted seating for president Andrew Jackson, nicknamed “Old Hickory,” for use at his Tennessee home, the Hermitage. By the end of the 19th century, Billy Richardson’s furniture had attracted such a fan base that he joined forces with other craftspeople in the area and they convened to work in an empty church, producing hickory sapling furniture full-time. Old Hickory was officially founded in 1899 and began shipping its signature hickory sapling seating and tables across the country.
Some of the company’s earliest customers were America’s National Parks, where Old Hickory’s homespun style of wooden furniture fit right in and turned out to be a sound investment. At Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Inn and Glacier National Park’s Lake McDonald Lodge, the Old Hickory seating purchased in the early 1900s remains in use to this day.
That’s not to say the company hasn’t adapted over its century-plus lifetime. A look at Old Hickory’s archive is something of a trip through American furniture styles of the past century. There are knotted designs from the 1930s, chaises made of wicker (a versatile and long-lasting natural material) that recall early-20th-century resort style and Mission-style sets reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement.
In the 1940s, Old Hickory tapped designer Russel Wright to lend his eye to the brand. Wright’s streamlined designs married Old Hickory’s rustic sensibility with a modern aesthetic. After closing in 1978, the company underwent two acquisitions and was moved from Martinsville to Shelbyville, Indiana, where it now operates. Today, Old Hickory continues to offer an array of furniture and home accessories, primarily in the widely loved style with which it began.
Find a range of Old Hickory Furniture Company armchairs, tables and other items for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Dayton, OH
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Antique Arts & Crafts Mission Quartersawn Oak Bentwood Rocking Arm Chair RockerLocated in Dayton, OHA gorgeous American Arts and Crafts Mission chair, circa 1930s This gem features a spindle side and back leading to a shielded crown and serpentine apron. Made from Quartersawn (Tige...Category
Early 20th Century American Mission Rocking Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Antique Victorian Stomps Burkhardt Quartersawn Oak Caned Rocker Rocking ChairLocated in Dayton, OH"Antique Victorian Stomps Burkhardt rocking chair. Made of quartersawn oak featuring serpentine form with caned seat. In 1860, Gustav Stomps established the firm G. Stomps Brothers in partnership with a brother, Joseph, and Martin Barbec. Richard P. Burkhardt purchased Barbec's interest on November 2, 1869, and Gustav Stomps bought out his brother. The company manufactured chairs by machinery. In 1890, the firm became Stomps-Burkhardt Company. Located in Dayton, Ohio “The chair factory was located downtown, at the corner of First and Canal streets. It’s Patterson Boulevard and First Street now. They had buildings on both the east and west sides of the canal. A third man started with them, but dropped out, and one of Gustave’s son-in-laws, Richard Burkhardt, bought out his share.” Through the years, various members of the Stomps and Burkhardt families worked at the company, best known for its chairs, which could be transported along the canal throughout Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York, and later on to Canada and Mexico. “Each year, they’d put out what they called a ‘Roman’ chair with arms, always very regal looking with carvings,” said Grismer. “They made one for Holy Rosary Church with a cross, but others had what look like monsters’ faces or just interesting one-of-a-kind carvings.” When Gustave Stomps died in 1890, his brother had already opened his own furniture factory, and the sons of Burkhardt took over the chair factory until it closed in 1928. By 1900, the forests surrounding downtown that supplied the sawmills had dwindled, and they had to travel to Kentucky for wood. In addition, the end of the canal days and 1913 flood had negative impacts on the business, adding to its downfall. The business’ heyday spanned 1890-1900, when it employed 235 and had $250,000-$300,000 in annual sales. Special chairs...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Rocking Chairs
MaterialsCane, Oak
- Antique Late Victorian Oak Pressback Upholstered Rocking Chair Rocker CameoLocated in Dayton, OHAntique late Victorian pressback rocking chair. A beautiful design featuring a serpentine crest rail with a laurel wreath wrapped cameo at the center featuring a distinguished gentl...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
- Antique Victorian Aesthetic Movement Oak Platform Rocking Chair Rocker BeehiveLocated in Dayton, OHAn intriguing Aesthetic Periiod platform rocking chair. Made from oak with a spindled back, ribbed and graduated (beehive) finials, bentwood and turned arms and a cloth seat. Dim...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Rocking Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Oak
- Antique Windsor Farmhouse Style Maple Stat Back Rocking Chair & Cushion RockerLocated in Dayton, OHA lovely rocking chair from the first half of the 20th century. Made from maple with a combination of Windsor and farmhouse styling. Features a contoured crest rail, slat back and ...Category
Early 20th Century American Rocking Chairs
MaterialsMaple
- Antique Late Victorian Carved Quartersawn Oak Barrel Back Rocking Chair RockerLocated in Dayton, OHLate Victorian Rocking Chair. Attributed to Stomps Burkhardt of Dayton, Ohio. Made from quartersawn oak with a heart shaped back, carved and pierced...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Vintage Adirondack Old Hickory Style Tree Branch Wood Frame Rattan Rocking ChairLocated in Philadelphia, PAVintage Adirondack old hickory style tree branch wood frame rattan rocking chair. Item features a woven rattan back and seat, nice wide frame, solid ...Category
Early 20th Century Adirondack Rocking Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Old Hickory Barrel Back Rocking ChairLocated in Los Angeles, CAFantastic old hickory barrel back rocking chair. Rocker is very Strong.Category
20th Century American Adirondack Rocking Chairs
MaterialsHickory
- 19thc Old Hickory Rocking ChairLocated in Los Angeles, CA19thc Old Hickory Rocking Chair. Strong and sturdy rocking chair. The seats are made from slats and have a smooth great feel to the lumbar area. Smooth Rocking chair with the qualit...Category
Antique 19th Century American Adirondack Rocking Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Vintage Adirondack Tree Branch Twig Arts & Crafts Primitive Rocker Rocking ChairLocated in Philadelphia, PAVintage Adirondack tree branch twig Arts & Crafts primitive rocker rocking chair. Item features handmade tree branch form, wood slats, very nice vinta...Category
Mid-20th Century Adirondack Rocking Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Rustic Primitive Adirondack Twig Rocking ChairLocated in Brooklyn, NYPrimitive, Adirondack, craftsman rocking chair features a rustic twig frame with contoured, slat, cherry bentwood seat and high back. Comfy and homey, perfe...Category
Mid-20th Century American Adirondack Rocking Chairs
MaterialsTwig, Cherry, Bentwood
- American Rustic Old Hickory Porch GliderBy Old Hickory Furniture CompanyLocated in New York, NYAmerican Rustic Old Hickory (1930s) large settee porch glider having spindle trim with a woven seat and back supported on a metal frame. (branded: OLD HIC...Category
Vintage 1930s American Rustic Rocking Chairs
MaterialsMetal
