Hitchcock Rocking Chair
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Rush, Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century American American Craftsman Rocking Chairs
Wood
Late 20th Century American American Classical Rocking Chairs
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage 1960s American American Craftsman Rocking Chairs
Oak
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Dining Room Chairs
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Wood
Antique 19th Century Victorian Rocking Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Windsor Chairs
Maple
Mid-20th Century American Sheraton Chairs
Straw, Wood
Antique Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Rocking Chairs
Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century North American Dining Room Chairs
Paint
Late 20th Century American Anglo-Japanese Console Tables
Mirror, Hardwood, Lacquer, Paint
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Rocking Chairs
Teak
Antique 19th Century Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut
Antique 18th Century English Chairs
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
20th Century American Country Stools
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Rocking Chairs
Oak
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chairs
Teak, Upholstery
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Hardwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Painted Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Rocking Chairs
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Rustic Rocking Chairs
Hardwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Country Rocking Chairs
Maple
20th Century American Rocking Chairs
Enamel
Vintage 1970s Rustic Rocking Chairs
Maple, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century North American Scandinavian Modern Rocking Chairs
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Classical Rocking Chairs
Maple, Paint
Mid-20th Century American Colonial Rocking Chairs
Hardwood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Walnut
Finding the Right rocking-chairs for You
The phrase “rocking chair” didn’t find its way into the dictionary until the mid-18th century. While most of the sitting furniture that we use in our homes originated in either England or France, the iconic rocking chair is a quintessentially American piece of furniture.
A Philadelphia cabinetmaker’s bill for a proto-rocking chair issued in 1742, which identified the seat as a “Nurse Chair with rockers,” is the earliest surviving evidence of this design’s humble beginnings. The nurse chair was a low side chair intended for nursing women, so giving it a soothing rocking motion made sense. Rocking chairs, which saw a curved slat affixed to the chairs’ feet so that they could be literally rocked, quickly gained popularity across the United States, garnering a reputation as a seat that everyone could love. They offered casual comfort without the expensive fabrics and upholstery that put armchairs out of many families’ budgets.
Rocking chairs are unique in that they don’t just offer a place to rest — they offer an opportunity to reminisce. The presence of one of these classic pieces stirs up our penchant for nostalgia and has the power to transform a space. They easily introduce a simple country feel to the city or bring the peaceful rhythm of a porch swing into a sheltered sunroom. Although craftsmen took to painting and stenciling varieties of the chairs that emerged in New England during the 19th century, the most traditional rocking chairs are generally unadorned seats constructed with time-tested materials like wood and metal. As such, a minimalist vintage rocking chair can be ushered into any corner of your home without significantly disrupting your existing decor scheme or the room’s color palette.
In the decades since the first rocker, top designers have made the piece their own. Viennese chair maker Michael Thonet produced a series of rockers in the middle of the 19th century in which the different curved steam-bent wood parts were integrated into fluid, sinuous wholes. Mid-century modernists Charles and Ray Eames added wooden rockers to their famous plastic shell armchair, while Danish designer Frank Reenskaug opted for teak and polished beech, introducing pops of color with small cushions (a precursor to the bold works that would follow in the 1970s and 1980s).
No matter your personal style, let 1stDibs pair you with your perfect seat. Deck out your porch, patio or parlor — browse the vintage, new and antique rocking chairs in our vast collection today.
- What is a Hitchcock chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Hitchcock chairs are 19th century-style chairs that were popular in the middle class as an emblem of social mobility. The chairs were affordable due to their easily mass-produced stenciling technique that replaced earlier painting designs.
- Are Hitchcock chairs valuable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Yes, some Hitchcock chairs are valuable. However, even early pieces made when the company first launched in the 19th century were mass produced, so chairs manufactured by the brand may not sell at price points as high as other antique furnishings. How much a particular Hitchcock chair is worth depends on its style, age, condition and rarity. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can help you determine the estimated value of your chair. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Hitchcock chairs.
- Are Hitchcock chairs still made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, the Hitchcock Chair Company closed its doors in 2006. Hitchcock chairs were initially created by Lambert Hitchcock who decided he could mass produce chairs for people. By the 1820s the Hitchcock chair company was making 300 chairs a week, a remarkable number at a time when many pieces of furniture were being handmade one piece at a time. Shop a collection of properly vetted Hitchcock Chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A platform rocking chair is a rocking chair constructed to have the rockers on a fixed platform rather than the floor. You’ll find a collection of vintage and contemporary platform rocking chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024What a rocking chair symbolizes is largely a matter of individual interpretation. Some people associate rocking chairs with comfort or relaxation. Because people often sit in the chairs to gently rock babies to sleep, the furniture may also represent parenthood or motherhood. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of rocking chairs.
- What is a Boston rocking chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Boston rocking chair is a wooden rocking chair with a decorative top panel and a seat and arms that curve down towards the front. Find an assortment of rocking chairs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What is a Windsor rocking chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021A Windsor rocking chair is built for comfort and is usually manufactured in such a way that the seat’s spindles, along with the chair-back and legs, are pushed into holes that have been drilled. This sets this type of chair apart, as the standard construction of a chair sees that the back legs are continuous. The Windsor chair originated in the early 1700s in the English town of Windsor. As mentioned, their bentwood back frames are assembled with slender wooden spindles that are plugged into drill holes in the sculpted seat, which was usually made of elm and slightly sunken or dish-shaped for the sitter’s comfort. Shop a collection of antique and vintage Windsor rocking chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 16, 2019
A rocking chair helps soothe infants, children, and adults alike. The rocking and swaying movement helps create a meditative and lethargic state.
- How old is the rocking chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 27, 2024The rocking chair is more than 275 years old. Early models date back to around 1725 and were made by outfitting Windsor chairs with skates. By 1787, rocking chairs were common enough for the word to be added to the English dictionary. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of rocking chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To identify a Thonet rocking chair, look for the company name. You will normally find it stamped directly onto the underside of the seat, arms or legs. You can find a collection of expertly vetted Thonet rocking chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 16, 2019
A wooden rocking chair can be cleaned using a sponge, soap, and water. After, you should proceed to pat the rocking chair down with a cloth.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To identify a Windsor rocking chair, enlist the help of a licensed furniture appraiser. Many convincing distressed reproductions exist due to their popularity and value. An experienced professional can accurately determine if yours is an authentic antique or a replica. Find a range of expertly vetted Windsor rocking chairs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021The cost of a wooden rocking chair varies depending on the type of wood used, its finish and craftsmanship. Also, the period that the rocking chair belongs to will define the price of the chair. An antique rocking chair might cost between $500 and $1,500 while a contemporary rocking chair may cost somewhere between $150 and $400. Find a variety of antique, vintage, and contemporary wooden rocking chairs on 1stDibs.
Read More
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.
Eileen Gray’s Famed Cliffside Villa in the South of France Is Returned to Its Modernist Glory
After years of diligent restoration, E-1027, the designer-cum-architect’s marriage of romance and modernism, is finally complete.