The Piece

An exquisite late-19th-century lyre-back rocker, crafted between 1870 and 1890 at the height of the Victorian era, built with sculptural flair and finished in brilliantly figured tiger maple. This rare form marries musical symbolism with parlor refinement—the lyre-shaped splat echoes classical motifs, while the dramatic flame maple offers a shimmering, organic display of the wood’s natural curl.

Unlike later reproductions, this rocker retains its original 19th-century jacquard upholstery, horsehair stuffing, and hand-tacked edging—a remarkable survival that speaks to its authenticity and long, careful life. The seat’s golden brocade pattern, the delicately turned front legs, and the sweeping rockers all remain true to the chairmaker’s original intent: elegant, lightweight comfort for reading, sewing, or gentle rocking in the Victorian parlor.

The chair’s presence is extraordinary—warm, luminous, and richly textured—combining the crisp silhouette of a lyre-back with the swirling drama of tiger maple. It is both an object of beauty and a document of 19th-century craftsmanship.

Design & Construction

→ Form & Style

A quintessential Victorian lyre-back rocker, defined by:

• A carved crest rail with scrolling acanthus flourishes

• A lyre-shaped splat, formed by slender vertical spindles mimicking classical instrument strings

• Graceful swept rockers joined to turned front legs

• A compact footprint typical of sewing, nursing, or parlor rockers

• A sculptural silhouette that reads as functional art

The chair embodies both high Victorian ornament and the lighter, more graceful forms used in parlors where mobility and elegance mattered.

→ Materials

• Tiger maple (curly maple) back and splat, with exceptional flame figuring

• Solid hardwood legs and runners

• Original horsehair and coir seat stuffing

• Original 19th-century jacquard upholstery in a gold brocade pattern

• Hand-applied varnish with age-softened patina

These materials are hallmarks of quality 1870s–1890s parlor furniture—natural, durable, and chosen for beauty as much as utility.

→ Technique

• Hand-cut and hand-shaped crest rail carving

• Precisely turned legs and spindles

• Hand-fitted joinery at the rocker-to-leg connection

• Traditional upholstery over horsehair padding with original tacks

• Veneer or solid curly maple elements, finished to highlight the tiger-stripe figure

The workmanship reflects a period in which even small domestic chairs received artistic attention—each element shaped by eye and hand.

History & Provenance

Dating to the late Victorian era, c. 1870–1890, this rocker comes from a time when parlor furniture expressed refinement, hospitality, and domestic artistry. Lyre-back chairs were especially favored in cultivated homes, symbolizing the arts and classical learning.

Your rocker contains several untouched historical features:

• Original jacquard upholstery

• Horsehair and natural-fiber stuffing

• 19th-century tackwork

• Unaltered crest carvings and lyre splat

• Warm, century-old tiger maple sheen

These elements mark it as a true survivor—an heirloom that has passed through generations without being stripped, rebuilt, or modernized. Its compact form and gentle rocking motion identify it as a sewing or nursing rocker, commonly used by women in Victorian parlors for tasks requiring poise and extended sitting.

Today, it stands as a luminous example of Victorian decorative furniture—collectible, sculptural, and richly expressive of its era.

Condition

An exceptionally well-preserved antique in structurally sound, museum-worthy condition:

• Frame tight and stable with no replacements

• Rockers smooth and balanced

• Original upholstery intact with age-softened texture

• Horsehair seat retains loft and shape

• Maple surface displays a rich, even patina with natural, century-old character

• Minor wear consistent with 130–150 years of careful use

This piece is genuinely rare for its level of originality.

Product Details

Item: Victorian Tiger Maple Lyre-Back Rocking Chair
Date: c. 1870–1890
Origin: United States, 19th-century cabinet shop
Material: Tiger maple, hardwood, horsehair stuffing, jacquard upholstery
Style: Victorian / Classical Revival / Parlor Furniture
Condition: Extraordinary original condition; structurally sound
Use: Accent seating, nursery rocker, decorative statement chair, reading corner

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This chair is perfect for anyone who loves objects that feel storied, elegant, and deeply handcrafted. It’s ideal if you want a piece that:

• Adds instant warmth and Old-World character

• Brings artisanal wood figure and Victorian sculpture into a modern home

• Functions as both seating and a conversation piece

• Enhances cottage, eclectic, maximalist, traditional, or historic interiors

• Represents true craftsmanship, untouched and preserved

Place it beside a window, at a writing desk, or in a reading nook. Let the tiger maple glow in natural light, and let the lyre-back silhouette speak for itself.

A rare, soulful Victorian heirloom—authentic, expressive, and beautifully preserved.