Rocking chairs have come a long way since my Granny bought her first one. It was a wooden in style, as were most built at that time, with a single color - brown. Most were made of either bamboo, wicker, or carved from the branches of a tree. According to Wikipedia, historians can only trace this chair's origins to North America during the early 18th century. A man by the name of Michael Thonet was credited for making the first bent wood rocking chair in 1860. He was a German craftsman who was influenced by the colonial era. In the 1920's however, folding rocking chairs became popular in the US and Europe because they were easy to travel with and came in handy for outdoor activities. Sam Maloof, a handy craftsman, then became famous in the 1950's for creating a similar style chair that resembled the look of skis.
Today, you can find a chair that resembles the traditional style from the early 1900's, but you can also find so much more. Modern machinery has taken over the craft of long ago, and has created a new market for those who love modern design. In the late 1940's Charles and Ray Eames developed a whole new look to furniture. The husband and a wife team created new designs that became very popular and are still sought after today. They wanted their furniture to be modern, fun, yet functional. Their molded plastic design can be a welcome addition to any room in the house, but at the same time it can be a playful part of any college dorm room. With many colors to choose from, it is also easy to match or even add a bit of contrast to an existing decor. Regardless, the comfort and relaxation it brings will never go out of style.
For those that like a little more sophistication, there are the slightly more expensive but definitely more comfortable leather rocking chairs. One example of this would include the Raymondo-Designer Chair. The arms and legs are one flowing piece of solid steel and are offered in a choice of pink, white, or black leatherette which covers the seat and backrest. This chair is definitely a much more sleek and modern style as compared to the chairs of 150 years ago. You can tell the lasting impression that Michael Thonet had on the world as this chair so many years later is fashioned after his original creation.
Today's rocking chairs require some assembly and must be delivered, but that is still easier than gathering the materials and making it yourself. The hours of relaxation and relief you experience will be well worth it. And yes, you do have a few more choices to make than my Granny did, but I think choosing the one that's right for you is the fun part.
