Rocking chair
Published October 6th, 2007 in Uncategorized
A rocking chair or rocker is a chair with two curved bands of wood (also known as rockers) attached to the bottom of the legs (one on the left two legs and one on the right two legs). This gives the chair contact with the floor at only two points granting the occupant the ability to rock back and forth by shifting his/her weight or pushing lightly with his/her feet. Many find rocking chairs soothing because of the gentle rocking. Rocking chairs are also comfortable because when one sits in one without rocking the chair automatically rocks backwards until the sitter’s center of gravity is met thus granting the ergonomic benefit that the occupant is kept at a very unstressed position and angle.
Rocking chairs can be quite dangerous for small children and pets as the rocker can crush feet as it rocks. Sometimes the rocking chair is on springs or on a platform (a “platform rocker”) to avoid this danger.
History
No clear answer can be given to the question of the rocking chair’s origin. Some American myths grant the invention to Benjamin Franklin. This however is highly unlikely as such an event is not mentioned in any of his notes or his autobiography. It is known, however, that rocking chairs did originate in North America or possibly in England c. 1725 as garden chairs and were originally normal chairs with a pair of rockers attached to the bottom.
It was not until around 1800 that rocking chairs began to be produced by furniture companies. One of the original (and perhaps first) businesses to produce rocking chairs was the work shop of Duncan Phyfe (fife) who produced furniture that pioneered the Empire style in New York City.
Cultural meaning
Rocking chairs are often associated with seniority and grandparents. They are also associated with parenting due to the lullaby Rock-a-bye Baby.
See also
- cradle, another rocking piece of furniture
- swing, the rocking movement comes from suspension
External links
- Rocking Chair Designs DesignBoom.com has a very interesting pictorial history of rocking chairs
- Guide To Rocking Chairs Overviews of rocking chair styles, materials and designers.
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