Bare or with a seat cushion, there are standard materials in a rocker.
An old rocking chair is one of the most loved pieces of furniture passed from generation to generation. The memories of sleep setting in or being rocked after a bad fall are some of the first memories of childhood. But, regardless of its age, the rocking chair has changed very little. There are standard materials for the making of a sturdy rocker that lasts a few hundred years. Does this Spark an idea?
Softwood and Hardwood
There are softwoods and hardwoods. Most old rocking chairs, especially the ones still in use, are made of a hardwood such as oak. Though there are some well-made old rockers fashioned of a softer wood such as pine, most simply have a problem holding up to the stresses through which a rocking chair is put. Hence, the reason many old rocking chairs that have survived the tests of daily use for several generations are those carved of a hardwood.
Joinery and Screws
Most old rockers have a wood flange that surrounds the entire seat. This flange conceals the wood brace through which screws are passed to join the seat bottom with the legs. Look for the original screws. Many older screws will be a bit discolored, compared with a screw molded of soft metals in the last century. Screws that are original to an old rocker that has lasted several generations were made of iron or other hard metals.
Upholstery Fabric and Tacks
There are models of old rocking chairs with an attached upholstered seat. The seat exterior consists of the external upholstery fabric and tacks. This fabric tends to be a coarse weave of natural fibers. Polyester did not exist in the 1800s. The upholstery tacks on older rocking chairs will be discolored. The tacks might have a decorative head or simply a bald dome shape. Look for tacks that are set side by side in a single row on the original upholstery.
Horse Hair and Springs
The interior of the upholstered seat on an old rocker is made of springs and horse hair. The springs add bounce and, after two generations, may need to be replaced if not retied. The horse hair is coarse and brittle. It is an indispensable fingerprint of an older rocking chair.
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