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Antique Rocking Chairs

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Rocking chairs go back to the revolutionary war, and beyond. They have a place in our history that will never be superceded. And they are just plain comfortable. The rocking can inspire, can calm, and can let your thoughts drift away. There is an almost metronomic quality to sitting and rocking in an antique rocking chair. And they are quite fetching.

10 Recommendations and 192 Ideas

Updated 02/03/2023
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Antique rocking chairs from the 1700s

Antique rocking chairs from the 1700s

August Grove®

are often characterized by having spindled backs and arms. They are ornately designed and add a unique charm to any space.

A deep brown or cherry wood adds depth to a space, making this chair ideal for a country kitchen or den—position one of these rockers next to the fireplace for a warm, cozy feeling.

This chair is light enough that you can easily transport it to other areas of the home for temporary use, like soaking in the sunrise with a cup of coffee on your porch or in a sunroom.

$264.99 $369.99

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Antique Oak Rocking Chair

Antique Oak Rocking Chair

William Import Co.

Oak is frequently used to create classy vintage rocking chairs. As a stylish and sturdy hardwood, oak allows manufacturers to develop chairs that marry quality and traditional design. While solid wood can be expensive, it ensures longevity and gives chairs an authentic antique appearance.

Although they look great as standalone solid wood pieces, antique oak rocking chairs can be accessorized for style and comfort with padded fabric upholstery. This padded material contrasts beautifully with the wood while providing additional comfort. Add a matching throw to make it even cozier. 

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Antique Rocking Chairs From the 1900s

Antique Rocking Chairs From the 1900s

Acme Furniture

If you’re looking for an antique furniture piece that turns heads, a rocking chair modeled after the early 1900s design is a great choice. Many of these chairs feature dark solid wood with intricate padded upholstery seating. Opt for a chair with floral or paisley upholstery designs for an authentic reflection of the Art Nouveau period. 

Besides looking beautiful, the padding makes this chair extremely comfortable, allowing you to spend hours lounging, reading, or even napping. 

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Rattan Antique Rocking Chair

Rattan Antique Rocking Chair

Safavieh

A rattan antique rocking chair is a versatile option for various spaces in your home. Woven rattan has a high level of craftsmanship, ensuring the rocker becomes a focal point in your living room or Florida room. 

The lightweight material makes the chair portable and suitable for use on the porch on a nice day. When combined with a neutral color throw or cushion, antique rattan chairs enhance a cozy reading nook in a home study or bedroom.

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Black Wooden Rocking Chair

Black Wooden Rocking Chair

Acme Furniture

Dark wooden antique chairs are a throwback to the classic American old rocking chairs. These chairs are an excellent addition to a room with existing antiques, such as solid wood lamp tables or dressers. While a black wood antique chair gives an authentic vintage look, many contain modern design features that make them more ergonomic. A contoured seat and tall back add to the comfort of this chair and make it studier. 

Use this chair in a farmhouse or traditional living room or accessorize it with a contrasting light-colored seat for a bright space.

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American Style Vintage Rocking Chair

American Style Vintage Rocking Chair

August Grove®

An American-made, vintage-style chair is perfect for rustic furniture lovers. The no-frills design features mainly straight pieces of solid wood, giving it a simplistic, classic appearance. A black or dark finish will give your porch or loft a polished look, but lighter colors may be more suitable for a French Country or Scandanavian style space.

Wood such as ash features natural knots and wood grain, making each piece unique. This chair can be painted easily, allowing you to maintain its condition if the colors start to fade. 

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Cushioned Antique Style Rocking Chair

Cushioned Antique Style Rocking Chair

Acme Furniture

If you’re after a British vintage-style rocking chair, a cushioned antique rocker is an excellent option. Woven cream fabric upholstery offers a beautiful contrast to the warm hue of the solid wood frame. A Queen Anne style back adds character to the design, giving it a regal look.

The smooth rocking motion of this chair allows you to sit for hours, and the back support promotes relaxation.  

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Walnut Engraved Rocking Chair

Walnut Engraved Rocking Chair

Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse®

An engraved, antique-style rocking chair can add character to your home. Engravings such as floral patterns or silhouettes of nature have a feminine appeal that makes this chair suitable for a guest room or a nursery. The gentle curvature of the headpiece softens this rocker despite its rich, dark coloring.

The arrowback design’s flat spindles make it comfortable for you to lean into the chair while nursing or reading. This chair is unsuitable for outside but would look beautiful in a sunroom or nursery when paired with a cream shag rug or throw pillow.

$319.99 $369.99

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9
Antique Outdoor Metal Rocking Chair

Antique Outdoor Metal Rocking Chair

Zaer Ltd.

There are few better ways to take in the sun on a pleasant summer’s day than rocking in an antique chair on your porch. Although there are many vintage rocking chair styles, you’ll need to find one made from rugged materials rated specifically for outdoor use. 

An antique chair manufactured from heavy-duty powder-coated metal is protected from the elements, prolonging its lifespan. Metal framed rocking chairs don’t offer the same comfort level as wood or upholstered models; add cushions covered in outdoor UV and water-resistant fabric to create a space where you can relax for hours.

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10
Traditional Tall Back Vintage Rocking Chair

Traditional Tall Back Vintage Rocking Chair

Alcott Hill®

Tall-back vintage seats provide excellent support and make for a comfortable experience when sitting for a long period. These chairs share a similar design that features spindles, seat lips, and hand-crafted timber pieces.

When you select a dark wood model with sharp lines and smooth surfaces, you get a sophisticated piece that adds a hint of traditional style to a modern space. A rocking chair with no intricate designs and a rich coffee finish is a fantastic choice for a home office or study. 

$157.99 $199

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Antique Rocking Chairs

Buying Guide

There are myriads of things that never age even with time and that includes antique rocking chairs. These antique furniture pieces are absolutely stunning, and they're best used in decorating homes. What's more, antique rocking chairs, even when they're old, are great for stress relief and rest.

Read on to find out all the points you need to take into account when choosing antique rocking chairs so you only select the one that's best suited for your home.

Antique rocking chairs are often made of wood like teak, oak, and wicker, but they can also be made of injection molded plastic, plastic resin, and fabric. Classic materials that make up antique rocking chairs include wicker, oak and other types of wood. They're best if you will be using your chair indoors. Otherwise, you'd want an antique rocking chair that's made of hard-wearing materials capable of withstanding harsh weather.

When it boils down to choosing the right material, you'd want to take a few factors into account like the material's appearance (how the chair has aged), durability (how well the material can withstand weather fluctuations), comfort (how luxurious and comfortable the material is), maintenance (how easy it is to look after the material), price (the value you'll get from the chair), and weight (how easy or hard it is to move the furniture around).

Depending on the style, most antique rocking chairs stand around 26-30 inches wide, 37-45 inches tall and 32-37 inches deep. The chairs could also weigh around 15-45 lbs, depending on the type of material used for the construction.

If you will be purchasing several rocking chairs to incorporate into your living space, make sure that you leave a space of 2-3 feet between the chairs. There must also be enough space in front and behind the rocking chairs as they need to rock back and forth without hitting anything. Standard patios can comfortably hold up to four antique rocking chairs.

You'd also want to pay attention to a chair's height as shorter people would want a lower seat height to make getting in and out of a chair easier. Taller people, on the other hand, would want higher seats to be comfortable.

If you're around 5', the recommended seat height for you is 16 inches. For people that are 5’6” tall, they're comfortable with a seat height that's 16 to 17 inches.

If you'll be buying a wooden antique rocking chair, your choices will be limited when it comes to the chair's color and finish unless it is painted. For HDPE lumber and injection molded plastic rocking chairs, you'll have lots of choices. Beautiful grays and earth colors are what we recommend as they can blend in a room's décor.

Scientific studies have shown that in addition to promoting relaxation, rocking chairs can ease the pain of arthritis, hasten healing after surgery or childbirth and ease anxiety and tension. John F. Kennedy kept them all around the White House so he could get relief from his chronic back pain. There’s a good reason why the use of the rocking chair has endured for so long.

Considering the benefits mentioned above, it’s no wonder that the rocking chair has been used in the U.S. since the early 1700s. In the 1820s, the simply styled but well-made Shaker rocking chair was introduced.

In the 1860s, Americans got to use the bentwood rocking chair that featured curvaceous legs and arms. Wicker rockers with padded seats were the rage in the early 1900s. Rocking chairs were so popular by then that people had to have them when they left home; the folding rocker was introduced.

In the 1950s, the Eames chair with a fiberglass seat and rockers made of wood came on the market. It had a modern, untraditional look. Though these styles are timeless and available today, you can find new takes on the rocker. The bottom line is that you can certainly find cheap rocking chairs that fit your tastes and style.

Cheap rocking chairs can be made of wood, bamboo, metal or molded plastic. Finishes can be varnished, painted, stained or natural. They can also come in bright colors such as pink or turquoise. Some chairs are upholstered in faux leather or another material. Others come with cushioned seats and headrests while others come with no upholstery or cushioning. If you want to go camping or on vacation with your rocker, buy a folding one.

You can find cheap rocking chairs that come with an ottoman that also rocks. Single-seat gliders, which are a type of rocking chair, provide movement without the possibility of its turning over. Their pedestals also have controlled movements to prevent damage to floors. Gliders made with steel components will last longer than ones made with aluminum. But the careful selection of even your standard rocker will leave you with a product that’s stable.

If you typically sit straight, choose a traditional-style rocker. One with vertical slats for the back is suggested. With a sitting position that’s less than erect, select a rocker that sits low to the floor.

Be ready to contact someone who’s good at putting things together because most rocking chairs require assembly.

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Best Ideas

Antique childs rocking chair

Oh my god! This rocking chairs looks like taken from the American Old West filmset. Such an elegant piece of furniture could be an ideal element for the stylized living room. The beautiful carved quirkinesses make it a little masterpiece.

Antique rocking chair ca early 1900s

Antique rocking chair ca early 1900s

Add this sublime, antique rocking chair to your home decor and enjoy a design straight from the early 1900s that will surely catch your guests attention, while ensuring utmost class and durability for your home.

Antique rocking chair with original leather seat

Antique rocking chair with original leather seat

For you, your mother, grandmother, father or grandfather: the antique rocking chair! Everyone need to have this chair on the porch or in bedroom, for napping and reading books. The wooden construction brings the solidity to any home.

Antique wicker rocking chair

Rocking chair with wooden construction. It offers a mesh seat paired with a mesh backrest. Antique construction is durable, provides comfort and enhances interior aesthetics. The chair is resistant to excessive wear.

Solid Oak Wood Rocking Chair

Solid Oak Wood Rocking Chair

Combing a traditional appearance with a simple silhouette, this rocker chair is sure to prove a great addition to a living room, creating a comfy spot to relax and unwind in after a hard day, preferably near a fireplace or a TV. The rocker chair is made out of solid pine wood with some rubber wood mixed in, which gives it a flexible trait and further increases its weight capacity to encompass people of every size.

Antique rocking chairs antique tiger oak rocking chair lot 5204

Antique Rocking Chairs | Antique Tiger Oak Rocking Chair : Lot 5204

Image search results for antique rocking chairs

Image Search Results for antique rocking chairs

Antique rocking chair 23

antique rocking chair

Furniture of America Oria Rocking Chair, Dark Oak

This type of product is a high quality rocking chair based on a durable frame made of solid wood. Its seat cushion is very soft, so it assures the highest level of comfort. It has got a removable pillow back.

Antique rocking chair 15

Antique Rocking Chair

Antique rocking chair 3

Rocking chairs never go out of fashion – check out this great, antique chair right here. It has proven its worth over the time it was used. Its timeless appeal will enhance every interior out there, not matter the design and style.

Foundations SafeRocker SS Swivel Glider Rocker, Natural/Blue

This glider rocker is functional and comfy, especially suitable for nursing mothers. The recliner features a sturdy wood frame, and a removable microfiber cushion. The arms provide maximum arm support while feeding. The chair swivels, rotates, and glides.

Antique rocking chair upholstered

Antique Rocking Chair Upholstered

American antique rocking chair victorian antique furniture

American Antique Rocking Chair Victorian Antique Furniture

Antique tiger oak rocking chair spindle high back with applied

Antique Tiger Oak Rocking Chair, spindle high back with applied ...

Medium Oak Rocking Chair

Medium Oak Rocking Chair

If you are searching for a traditional vibe to finish off your old-fashioned living room, take a look at this simple rocking chair, made out of sturdy solid wood, which provides a much more durable construction than simple manufactured wood or particle board. The rocking chair has a medium oak finish, which gives it a shiny, polished look which further highlights its vintage aesthetic, and has a strong support base.

Cedar Wood Rocking Chair

Cedar Wood Rocking Chair

With its sophisticated look and antique design, this royal rocking chair seems as if taken straight from a medieval household of nobility. It was handcrafted by a highly skilled craftsman, and an artisan story card is included with the purchase to prove the originality of the product. The chair is adorned with bronze buttons and leather elements, fitted with gorgeous, arabesque patterns.

Dark Walnut Rocking Chair

Dark Walnut Rocking Chair

A simple yet elegant rocking chair with a slim construction and a sleek silhouette. The rocking chair is crafted out of solid wood with metal hardware elements, which ensure the stability and durability of the piece. It features a slatted back and ladder sides, which make it seem open and minimalistic, all the while providing ventilation in hot summer months, and is finished with carved details and engraved accents.

Contemporary Rubberwood Rocking Chair

Contemporary Rubberwood Rocking Chair

This vintage-inspired rocking chair with a twist of a contemporary finish is sure to be a great fit in both traditional, old-fashioned arrangements as well as those more modern and futuristic, creating a stylish contrast. The rocking chair not only provides a sight pleasurable to the eye but is also made with care and profiled to be as comfortable as possible without an additional seat cushion to make it soft.

Rustic Leather Rocking Chair

Rustic Leather Rocking Chair

Mixing a rustic design with some unique, industrial elements, this rocking chair is a one-of-a-kind addition to any home and is sure to provide with a vibe that is unusually seen anywhere else. This one is made out of elegant walnut wood, which is both strong and has a classy gran, with an antique charcoal finish, giving it an extraordinary tint. It is also fitted with metal hardware elements crafted from iron which are not covered.

Traditional Rocking Chair With Arms

Traditional Rocking Chair With Arms

Fill your home with a traditional aura and make it resemble a classic, old-fashioned countryside cottage with this rocking chair made out of tough, solid wood with a subtle coat of black paint and a shiny and smooth finish, which makes it reflect light just slightly enough to stay classy and stylish. The top of the back of the rocking chair provides a smooth curvature, which gives the whole piece a contemporary element.

Vintage wood antique rocking chair wood

Vintage wood antique rocking chair wood

Traditional look for a vintage, antique rocking armchair made out of vibrant cherry wood with a reddish tint. The armchair is fitted with a flower-patterned upholstery made out of cotton fabric in a blue colour, providing a nice finish.

Reserved for s j summers antique rocking

Reserved for s j summers antique rocking

This antique rocking chair is a beautiful combination of solid wooden construction and fine form. The whole is ideal as a design element in traditional style or a very functional furniture to relax.

Magnus Rocking Chair

Magnus Rocking Chair

A classic and traditional rocking chair. Made of wood, with wide seat and comfortable high back. Solid construction and high quality finish. Perfect addition to any room, where you want to have a place for relaxation.