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Rocking chair
George Hunzinger (American, born in Germany, 1835–1898)
about 1880
Object Place: New York City, New York, United States
Medium/Technique
Walnut, blue paint, wool-wrapped steel
Dimensions
Overall: 85.09 x 55.88 x 78.74 cm (33 1/2 x 22 x 31 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Supporters of the Department of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture
Accession Number1990.325
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsFurniture – Seating and beds
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.
DescriptionRocking chair with plain rockers, turned frame, and wool wrapped steel seat and back. Steel wire webbing is flat in section and wrapped with blue and gold wool. Blue paint is used in the turned grooves on some wood members where there is no blue wool.
Marks
Stamped on right rear leg: "HUNZINGER / NY / PAT. MARCH 30 / 1869 / PAT. APRIL 18 / 1876."