Rocking chair
George Hunzinger
(American, born in Germany, 1835–1898)
about 1880
Object PlaceNew York City, New York, United States
Medium/TechniqueWalnut, blue paint, wool-wrapped steel
DimensionsOverall: 85.09 x 55.88 x 78.74 cm (33 1/2 x 22 x 31 in.)
Credit LineGift of Supporters of the Department of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture
Accession number1990.325
On View
On viewClassificationsFurniture
Collections
This chair celebrates technology. Parts of the frame are machine-made, and the seat and back feature a new upholstery method that Hunzinger patented in 1876. Instead of using layers of webbing, springs, padding, and fabric, he employed flat, steel wire to create a seat that was light and flexible. This chair retains some original blue paint as well as the original blue-and-gold wool fabric wrapped around the steel. When new, the colors would have made the chair even more vibrant.
about 1927–1928
early - mid 19th centuries
1676–80
mid 14th century and 19th century
19th century
Mid 19th century
mid 19th century
mid 19th century
mid 19th century
designed 1935
1988
About 1730–60 with 19th-century japanning