Shaker Elder’s Rocking Chair
Canterbury, NH | c. 1820-1830
Birch, pine, and cotton
Old or original stain and varnish surface
47 ¾” h. x 23” w. x 23” d.; seat: 15 ½”
A rare, possibly unique example of an early-nineteenth-century Elder’s Rocking Chair made at the Canterbury, New Hampshire, Shaker community. The now-iconic design of the Shaker slat-back chair originated in New Lebanon, New York, which was the center of Shaker governance, overseeing all earthly and spiritual matters—including design. From the design of an early New Lebanon chair, the Canterbury Shakers adopted the mushroom front posts and tenoned arms. To this classic form, they added the distinctive stylistic elements of pommels with more rounded tops, a reduced bevel on the back slats, and “suicide rockers,” (less elongated rocker blades).
Birch and pine in an old or original stain and varnish surface. The cotton tape seat is a replacement woven in the style of an original Shaker taped seat. In an excellent state of preservation.
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