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.
