Posted 13 years ago
shawnmcbur…
(1 item)
I just finished my once a year "project". I picked up the Walnut caned rocker at an estate sale in September for $10. The caning supplies cost about $30 from my favorite place in Longbeach CA.... I won't count the hours involved but it is now February.... :-) The rockers are hard maple and the side and back bottom spindles are oak and the rest is walnut. The carving is obviously by hand as it doesn't match perfectly from left to right and the two rectangular openings carved at the top were hand chiseled for the finishing. I couldn't date the wood screws that held the seat at the back and the arms but I don't think they were the originals...
Does anyone have a guess on an approximate age?
The larger rocker with the spindle back was my first caning project 7 years ago and my wife found that at an auction for $15 and I put another $40 into it. That one I think is made of ash as it is very light and stands 4ft tall. The arms are one piece bent up to the top back and were dovetailed in. Most of the chair was pegged. The few nails that were in the chair were "hammered" rectangular wrought iron nails so I think it is fairly old but not really sure.
The last little rocker I do know the age of and it is from about 1880 as it was passed to my grandmother from a neighbor who got it from her aunt and was used for her children. It is only 32" tall. That was my first and last rushing project as it is a killer on the wrists to keep the rush taut while weaving. That rocker weighs almost as much as the large ash rocker as it is all hard maple.
If indeed these are antiques, are you aware that if you refinish the wood it lessens the value? The rocker on the far left, is it low to the ground and tipped back when resting (no one sitting in it)? It looks similar to a nursing rocker (which is why it's low to the ground, tips back and doesn't have arms) that belonged to my great, great, great grandmother and came from Germany. I had it re-caned by an antiques specialist years ago (he did not refinish the frame and stained only the cane to make it look old) and said he had a lot of offers so I assume it's very valuable. There are no markings as to who made it. Good luck.