Shaker Brown-Red-painted Rocking Chair

Shaker Brown-Red-painted Rocking Chair, New Lebanon, New York, c. 1800, the four arched slats joining turned post above flat shaped arms, the second slat with paper label affixed to back, with numerals "01.," tapered arm supports continuing to legs joined by double stretchers, ending in turned feet joined by shaped rockers, ht. 45 1/2, seat ht. 15 1/2 in. Literature: Shaker Furniture: The Craftsmanship of an American Communal Sect , plate 16; Community Industries of the Shakers , figure 60; The Magazine Antiques , May 1979; and Gather Up the Fragments , p. 210. The unrefined side-scroll arms and turned bottom on the posts point to the relatively early construction date of this rocker. "01." is written on a heavily finished label affixed to the center of the reverse of the top slat. The meaning of this is unknown, although the Andrewses speculated that it could have indicated a date of 1801. A more likely explanation is that it specified the room in which the chair was used. The finish is a red paint and the tape seat has been replaced.