| Object ID |
1987.2 |
| Object Name |
Chair, rocking |
| Dimensions |
H-44 W-20 L-28.5 inches |
| Early Date |
1838 |
| Late Date |
1838 |
| Made By |
H.S. Dewey |
| Description |
The rocking chair, apparently an American invention, evolved from the cradle and easy chair, and was used in the colonies as early as 1740. While the first rockers were slat-back or Windsor chairs with rockers added, the form had become so popular by 1820 that chairmakers were producing them commercially as a stock item.
On the bottom of this rocking chair is written, “H.F. Dewey/Chairmaker/East Bennington/ Sept. 15, 1838/ $4.50.” Dewey was a prolific chairmaker known to have been working from 1827 until 1841, both alone and in partnership with a man named Woodworth. During the 1820s, Dewey and Woodworth issued advertisements such as the one pictured below.
Although the overall shape of this chair is similar to the “Boston Rocker” popular during the second quarter of the 19th century, Dewey’s distinctive style can be seen in the concave front stretcher, wide, flat arms and crest rail, and the purposeful mixture of the variously grained pieces of local maple. |
| Credit |
Gift of Patricia Blackmer Thibodeau |
|
