Antique Rocking Chair Identification Guide: What to Look For

Antique furniture, in particular antique rocking chairs, are becoming extremely popular as home and event’s decor elements. Charming, elegant and nostalgic, antique rockers are certainly one of the most iconic American furniture. After all, one of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite chairs was a wooden rocker.

Above, a pair of antique rockers, looking very much like the ones made by Hitchcock during 1825-1852. But are these truly original? What parts are original and which aren’t?

Hmm let’s see how you can improve your knowledge and identification of antique rocking chair styles and understand the real value of each piece. 

Antique Rocking Chairs are gaining popularity

These classic rockers make a great piece to showcase a particular area inside or outside the house. Indeed, some classic rockers and iconic antique models such as the Thonet, Hitchcock and windsor chairs, are in huge demand in recent years. 

This means also that you need to assess closely the rocking chair to confirm it’s actually an authentic antique piece.

In the following antique chair identification guide, we share key tips that will help you identify authentic antique rocking chair styles and models. The following guide can apply to antique furniture overall as well.

If you are considering using an antique rocker outside, check our outdoor rocker materials buying guide. Avoid damaging your rocker, it might just be better to use it outdoors sporadically for events.

Furthermore, these wooden rocking chairs were practically all hand manufactured. So owning one of these antique chairs is holding a small piece of history and a cultural symbol, specially in the case of the American rocking chairs.

To better understand what are the main authenticity factors that generate value in antique rocking chairs check our list below.

What defines an antique furniture

According to Christie’s, a furniture needs to be over a century old to be considered an antique piece. Also an antique furniture’s manufacturing technique and design should represent a particular period and be collectible (thus rare and relatively preserved).

Make Sure the Rocker’s Wood is Originally Antique

Not all is in the looks

With so many different wood species, tints and varnishes available today, it is very difficult for someone to precisely identify the type of wood used in any furniture. Clearly some type of woods such as pine, cedar and mahogany are more easily identifiable, but that is not the case for most other woods.

Furthermore, a same type of wood can look different if produced in different parts of the world. This means a scrupulous seller could easily scam you if you are not aware of what type of wood to expect for an antique rocking chair.

It is important to know that most antique rockers are made from US hardwood. This is because manufacturers used available local woods such as black walnut.

In addition, some dealers might modify used rocking chairs in order to give them an antique look. A wood worker can easily apply different finishing techniques such as aged texture to obtain an aged/antique look. So if you want to stay away from any type of scams, ask sellers for the type of wood used in the antique rocker and make sure it looks accordingly.

Here are some characteristics of the different types of woods that were used for making rocking chairs back in the 1800’s and 1900’s. That way you will be able to spot the best and original antique rocking chair.

Most common types of wood used for US wooden furniture 

in the 18th and 19th centuries

• Walnut wood or black walnut has one of the finest wood patterns, with some waves or curls and a pale to dark brown color. It is relatively hard to work with and holds well against pressing and dents.
• Maple wood is one of the hardest woods, similar to white oak. It has a clear white to creamy color and is considered to be pretty heavy. Nevertheless, maple does not resist humidity well as it rots and stains easily. For that reason the antique rocker should have been used as interior furniture in order to last for so many years.
• Pinewood has a white yellowish tone and tends to darken with age. It is not very hard.
• Oakwood comes in a wide variety of tones, from clear white Oak to chestnut and black. One of the most used hardwoods as there are more than 20 types of oak wood. The oakwood is one of the hardest woods available and is highly resistant to humidity and rot, specially the red and white oak.
• Cherry. Has a clear to medium reddish brown, mostly with straight lines.
• Birchwood. Wood with straight, close-grained texture. It can be white, yellow or red.

Knowing the Manufacturer Adds Great Value to your Antique Rocker

Manufacturers usualy place their logos or even contact information Whenever a furniture is produced, a manufacturer leaves his mark on it. This could be a burn stamp, carved mark, or a label made of paper or metal mostly present under the seat of the chair.

Whenever you are looking to buy an antique rocking chair, you must look for this because it will tells you a lot about the authenticity of the chair.

Furthermore, some antique rocker models tend to incorporate really particular details such as colors, shapes and other characteristic traits. (see hitchcockchair.com models)

Identify the Different Styles of Antique Rocking Chairs and Iconic Models

Learn to Identify antique manufacturing methods

Rocking chairs started to become popular in America in the early nineteen century. The famous Hitchcock rockers are a great representation of that era. They became popular in the 1830’s, as they were successfully being mass produced. Before that, rocking chairs were built in a pretty simple manner without a particularly defined or elaborated way.

Nowadays there are many different tools and methods used to make rockers. Nevertheless, in older times, fewer techniques were available. Earlier antique rockers were completely handmade. Manufacturers introduced different methods such as chain manufacturing and steam bending machines with time.

Therefore each antique rocking chair model has a style that represents the particular wood working method and techniques at the time it was produced. Some iconic rocker models were built around important innovations for their time, such as chain manufacturing and steam wood bending (Thonet models).

If you spot a modern-day manufacturing method, then it is a fake “antique rocker”. Otherwise, it might be original, even though some parts could be much newer.

Some of the most renown and iconic antique rocking chair models:

Thonet rocker; Victorian platform rocker (1stDibs); Hitchcock antique rocker – Left to right

Most characteristic elements of antique rockers

The following elements tend to be introduced in authentic antique rockers according to the manufacturing period.

Early nineteen century

• Decorative curves, painted and graved
• Rocking feet
• High relief carvings
• carved spindles

Mid-nineteen century

• Cushioned seats and upholstery
• steam curved arms and legs

Later 1800's and early 1900's

• Less handcraft and more mass production technique

Mid - twenty's century

• Use of different materials such as plastic and metal
• Complete reupholstery
• More minimalistic design

Check for Antique Hardware and Materials Used for Building the Rocker

Nowadays, nails and other similar building materials are machine made. In older times, allmost everything was hand made. You can check for the type of nails or other parts used to assemble antique rocking chairs. It will provide valuable information on the originality of the rocker or how intact it still is.

Look for Wear

If the antique rocker is original, it should have some signs of wear and visible damage. When buying an antique rocking chair, you must look for wear on all the different parts of the chair. It tells if the rocker is original, an imitation or simply help identify the parts that might not be original.

For example, scratches and other damages that pealed or removed original finish should not show any relevant color contrast. This is because with time, dirt is supposed to cover the natural looks of the wood. Plus, the wood’s color in the scratched/damaged area should age as well and thus cannot look recent.

Refurbished or repaired rocker parts? Know the difference

It is pretty common that a dealer tells you that an antique rocker is repaired or refurbished, something that is totally understandable. Nonetheless, you must know the difference between a refurbished and repaired antique rocking chair. 

Repaired applies to a specific part of the chair because it had some issues of any kind. Being that a bad functionality or simply deteriorated aesthetics. On the other hand, refurbished means that the whole antique rocker might be reassembled or reconditioned. In this case, it might have lost its value.

You should carefully check the rocker and assess its different parts well and then buy it after you are sure that it is a legit antique. Try to know if the repair is recent or from long ago. The older the repairs, the more in tune they will be with the antiqueness of your rocking chair.

Use a Secure Seller that Offers Warranty and Money Back

This is really important and might prevent you from evaluating without being necessarily an antique rocking chair expert. You can contact your local cabinetmaker to see if he can check your antique rocker of interest. If the product is an imitation and you have paid a high price for it, you should be able to return it and obtain your money back.

Reupholster an Antique Rocking Chair

A lot of people buy antique and vintage rocking chairs to reupholster them. You can definitely obtain a pretty catchy and original piece of furniture by mixing modern colors with older designs. For more info on how to reupholster your antique rocker check the posts below or visit our antique rocking chair category.

How to Make Rocking Chair Cushions the Right Way

How to Paint a Rocking Chair Like a Pro!

How to Reupholster a Rocking Chair: Easy Step by Step Guide

Conclusion: Become an Aware Antique Furniture Buyer

Some dealers try to trick customers in buying fake or reconditioned antique chairs (but that will not be your case now!). But you will not be fooled now that you read our antique rocking chair identification guide. This does not make you an expert but provides the key elements for a general assessment of authenticity.

The rocking chair you choose for your home, exterior or particular décor use, should comply with your expectations. But it is important to make the difference between antique rocking chairs, repaired, vintage or aged rockers.

You should not pay an inappropriate price or believe something that is not. It is always advisable to get a second opinion form a professional woodworker in your local area if you really want to confirm if the rocker is antique. Unless of course you buy through an establish seller.

We will soon add a list of established antique rocking chair sellers in the US! Contact us if you want to receive it ASAP.