The rocking chair has long been a staple of American domesticity and one of our most beloved symbols of advancing age. Many such creations were built in the last century, when putting runners or rockers on an otherwise uncomfortable perch represented the height of seating technology. Today the chairs remain lasting testaments to the American culture of leisure that first found its origins over a hundred years ago.

Antique rocking chairs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from the most basic wooden versions through truly decadent creations in hardwood, ivory and gold leaf. Many of these boasted precursors to the modern upholstery trend of combining foam and batting, creating seating surfaces that were as inviting as they were attractive.

Rocking chairs from the old days were widely considered some of the finest examples of American furniture design. Innovative design houses and architects all got into the market with creations of their own, and many stretched existing forms in new directions with swooping armrests, canted surfaces and the kind of detailed edging that made any seat a throne.

If you have been looking for better resources on these popular items, you may want to check for collectors' groups online. Today a vibrant trade has cropped up that combines the best of history, function and materials, and avid collectors believe there has never been a better time to find affordable, timeless examples of the breed.