Parts of a Rocking Chair
Everyone loves a rocking chair. Supposedly invented by Ben Franklin, the rocking chair has been popular with presidents from Abe Lincoln to John F. Kennedy. It's useful for rocking the baby, but also just for relaxing by the fire or on the porch. Does this Spark an idea?
Rockers
The parts of the rocking chair that make it rock back and forth are naturally called rockers. These are pieces of material (usually wood) attached to the bottom of the legs. They curve upward and allow the chair to smoothly tilt back and forth in a rocking pattern.
Stretcher
The stretcher refers to the H-shaped horizontal support piece located between the legs of a chair, below the seat and above the rockers. It is sometimes referred to as the "H stretcher."
Arm Rail
The part of the rocking chair on which you rest your arms is called the arm rail. Some arm rails sport manchettes, or cushions, for added comfort. All rocking chairs do not have arm rails.
Back support
The back support of a rocking chair is often made of spindles or a splat. The splat is a vase-shaped piece of wood found in the center of the chair back. Spindles are cylindrical shaped pieces of material that are drilled into the back of the chair seat and attached to the top rail.
Top Rail
The top rung of the chair's back is the top rail, which is often larger than the other rails depending on the chair's design. Top rails sometimes have intricate carved ornamentation in the center, called cresting.
Tags: back forth, chair back, Parts Rocking Chair, pieces material, rocking chair, rocking chair