A cool breeze passes by and the rocking chair gently sways back and forth. Without a doubt rocking chairs provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But where did it all begin?
Rocking chairs first appeared in England during the early 1700's and were used mainly in outdoor garden settings. Despite being conceived in England, it was not until later, under the American influence, that rocking chairs started becoming a more popular type of furniture.
One of the earlier rocking chairs was the Windsor Rocker, named such because it is believed to have originated near Windsor castle in England . The backs of these chairs had an elliptical style and four legs directly hammered into the seat. The Gungstol, developed later in Sweden , also gained popularity. This particular type of rocking chair was uniquely marked by its six-legged construction.
Rocking chairs crafted during the 1800's were less rigid and started to become more contemporary. A popular variation created during this time was the rocking reclining couch. During this century, craftsmen also started adding upholstery to this popular form of furniture.
Today, rocking chairs are more prominent than ever. When 'rocking chairs' are mentioned, oftentimes the first image that comes to mind is an elderly lady knitting on a porch in a rocking chair. However, this outdated stereotype couldn't be further from the truth. There are a variety of modern day, contemporary styled rocking chairs scattered throughout homes across America and the world.
Rocking chairs continue to be a popular type of both indoor and outdoor furniture. What the future holds for rocking chairs is anybody's guess, but one should certainly expect to see even more variations this extremely popular typed of furniture. |
