Lot 168: Rare Rocking Chair

Maple and tiger maple, traces of original red painted finish with very old patina, four slats, (top slat is pegged and 4 1/2″ h, bottom three slats are 3 3/4″ h), tiger maple writing arm on right side, and flat curvilinear arm with large mushroom cap on left, original well worn splint seat, with a Shaker seat mat, woven in blue and orange concentric ovals, front and back stiles are turned, heavier at the base at the joining of the rockers, riveted with steel and iron rods, some early repairs, Watervliet, NY, c. 1820, very possibly the work of Brother Freegift Wells (1785-1871), one of the earliest chair makers of Watervliet, (see p. 7-27, The Shaker Chair, Muller and Rieman), working from 1814 to 1830 and from 1957 to 1864, Brother Wells was a Church Family Elder at Watervliet when he left for the Ohio Union Village community in 1836 returning to New York in 1857, 14″ seat h, 46″ overall h.

Estimate: $1,500-2,500