Rocking Chairs Handcrafted With Pride Here In The USA!

THE ROCKING CHAIR

A rocking chair (or rocker) is a type of 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). The chair contacts with the floor at only two points, giving 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 motion. Rocking chairs are also comfortable because, when a user sits in one without rocking, the chair automatically rocks backwards until the sitter's center of gravity is met, thus granting an ergonomic benefit with the occupant kept at a very unstressed position and angle. Varieties of rockers include those mounted on a spring base (or platform) called "platform rockers" and those with swinging braces commonly known as gliders.

According to an american legend, the rocking chair was purportedly invented by Ben Franklin by simply taking a standard chair and adding rockers to it. Cabinetmakers began producing rocking chairs in the early nineteenth century, and many examples from that era still survive today. Their popularity has only increased, and antique rockers of many varieties are highly collectable today.

 Rocking chairs are sometimes associated with seniority and grandparents. They are also often associated with parenting, as the gentle rocking motion often soothes and quiets a fussy infant.

 *Taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia!  Read more from this page.



 

 

THE HISTORY OF THE ROCKING CHAIR

We all know that the rocking chair is a distinctly american passion, its origins, however, are less clear.  Adding skates or rockers to the bottom of chairs probably evolved from the cradle and the rocking horse, which both predate the rocking chair. Apparently no one thought to apply the idea to furniture for adults until the eighteenth century. The word 'rocker' originated in the 15th century and indicated the person responsible for rocking the cradle.  In the 18th century it also meant an orator who put others to sleep. It was not until 1787 that the earliest dated citation ' ROCKING CHAIR' appeared in the oxford english dictionary for usage...Click for more Rocking Chair History!



 


  An apple a day, the rocking chair way!

 ROCKING CHAIR THERAPY

Through personal accounts, therapist insight, medical research and historical references this site is able to convey the potentially therapeutic benefits of rocking in a rocking chair.  From Alzheimer's to Varicose Veins, they list many ailments that have been shown to be affected by the use of the rocking chair.  Read more on rocking chair therapy research here!