The Piece

A finely preserved Victorian pressed-back oak rocking chair, dating to circa 1895–1910, from the late Victorian into early Edwardian period of American furniture design. Crafted with a beautifully figured tiger-oak grain veneer and ornate pressed motifs, this parlor rocker captures the warmth, refinement, and emerging machine-carved artistry of the turn of the 20th century.

With its graceful curved runners, spindle backrest, and original damask upholstery, the piece embodies a moment when comfort met craftsmanship—intended for a parlor, reading nook, or nursery, where it offered both elegance and repose.

Design & Construction

→ Form & Style: Transitional between Eastlake and Rococo Revival, featuring a bold pressed and carved crest rail with scroll flourishes, fluted spindles, and a sculpted backrest. The rocker’s scale and open sides reflect the domestic parlor trend toward lighter, more feminine furniture forms of the early 1900s.

→ Wood: Quarter-sawn oak or maple with a tiger-oak veneer, finished in a warm reddish-brown shellac typical of the period. The fine grain patterning and subtle oxidation along the runners suggest hand-finished detailing.

→ Seat & Upholstery: Retains its original jacquard damask seat covering in a gold-and-rust palette, woven on an early mechanical loom in a foliate medallion motif. The weave, pattern repetition, and oxidation are consistent with circa 1900–1915 textiles, indicating rare survival in near-original condition.

→ Construction: Mortise-and-tenon joinery with turned front legs and double side stretchers; hand-shaped rockers. Manufactured by a Midwestern workshop or regional furniture company such as Heywood Brothers, Phoenix Chair Co., or Larkin Co., which popularized pressed-back oak rockers during this era.

Condition

Excellent structural integrity and gentle surface patina. Minor surface wear to the runners and edges consistent with age. Upholstery shows expected softening of fibers but remains intact, clean, and historically valuable.

A charming, authentic turn-of-the-century oak parlor rocker showcasing period craftsmanship and preserved upholstery—a rare combination seldom found outside of museum or heirloom collections. Its historical integrity, tiger-oak figure, and original textile make it a collectible and display-worthy piece that bridges both Victorian romance and early American industrial artistry.