19th Century Victorian Rocking Chair
Antique 19th Century Austrian Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Horn, Leather, Maple
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wicker
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Antique 1880s American Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wicker
Antique 1890s American Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wicker
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Rocking Chairs
Oak
Antique 1880s American Victorian Windsor Chairs
Brass, Steel
Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Children s Furniture
Fabric, Cane, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Patio and Garden Furniture
Wicker, Rattan
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Children s Furniture
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Children s Furniture
Walnut, Fabric
Early 20th Century English Early Victorian Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Rocking Chairs
Ash, Elm
20th Century Rocking Chairs
Bamboo, Wood
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century American Eastlake Rocking Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Reed
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Reed
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Reed
Antique 19th Century American Rocking Chairs
Cane, Reed
Antique 19th Century North American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Oak
Antique 19th Century Victorian Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Chairs
Antique 19th Century Chairs
Antique 19th Century American Chairs
Antique 19th Century Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Toys
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Rocking Chairs
Leather, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Rocking Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Rocking Chairs
Wicker
- 1
19th Century Victorian Rocking Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 19th Century Victorian Rocking Chair?
Finding the Right Rocking-chairs for You
The phrase “rocking chair” didn’t find its way into the dictionary until the mid-18th century. While most of the sitting furniture that we use in our homes originated in either England or France, the iconic rocking chair is a quintessentially American piece of furniture.
A Philadelphia cabinetmaker’s bill for a proto-rocking chair issued in 1742, which identified the seat as a “Nurse Chair with rockers,” is the earliest surviving evidence of this design’s humble beginnings. The nurse chair was a low side chair intended for nursing women, so giving it a soothing rocking motion made sense. Rocking chairs, which saw a curved slat affixed to the chairs’ feet so that they could be literally rocked, quickly gained popularity across the United States, garnering a reputation as a seat that everyone could love. They offered casual comfort without the expensive fabrics and upholstery that put armchairs out of many families’ budgets.
Rocking chairs are unique in that they don’t just offer a place to rest — they offer an opportunity to reminisce. The presence of one of these classic pieces stirs up our penchant for nostalgia and has the power to transform a space. They easily introduce a simple country feel to the city or bring the peaceful rhythm of a porch swing into a sheltered sunroom. Although craftsmen took to painting and stenciling varieties of the chairs that emerged in New England during the 19th century, the most traditional rocking chairs are generally unadorned seats constructed with time-tested materials like wood and metal. As such, a minimalist vintage rocking chair can be ushered into any corner of your home without significantly disrupting your existing decor scheme or the room’s color palette.
In the decades since the first rocker, top designers have made the piece their own. Viennese chair maker Michael Thonet produced a series of rockers in the middle of the 19th century in which the different curved steam-bent wood parts were integrated into fluid, sinuous wholes. Mid-century modernists Charles and Ray Eames added wooden rockers to their famous plastic shell armchair, while Danish designer Frank Reenskaug opted for teak and polished beech, introducing pops of color with small cushions (a precursor to the bold works that would follow in the 1970s and 1980s).
No matter your personal style, let 1stDibs pair you with your perfect seat. Deck out your porch, patio or parlor — browse the vintage, new and antique rocking chairs in our vast collection today.
Read More
All the Furniture in This Organic Modern Soho Loft Can Be Yours
Andrianna Shamaris has filled her epic new home with pieces of her own design.
20 Inviting Dining Rooms Perfectly Arranged for Entertaining
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Nobody Puts This Sunny Sofa in a Corner
With its plush cushions, cane details and dazzlingly colorful back, it’s inviting from every angle.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.