Hitchcock-Style Stenciled Windsor Rocking Chair

This is a vintage rocking chair designed in the iconic Hitchcock style, likely a mid-20th-century reproduction of the 19th-century American classics. The chair features a broad, curved crest rail (top rail) adorned with elaborate gold-toned stenciling depicting a bowl of fruit and floral motifs, a hallmark of the Lambert Hitchcock aesthetic. It is constructed from solid wood, finished in a characteristic matte or semi-gloss black paint. The back consists of seven vertical spindles supported by two sturdier side posts, all set into a shaped pine or maple seat. The seat exhibits gold pinstriping echoing the shape of the saddle. The arms are S-curved and also feature stenciled patterns on the hand rests. Regarding condition, the piece shows visible wear commensurate with age, including surface scuffs on the seat, some fading of the gold stencils on the crest rail, and minor paint chips on the rock runners and spindles. The joinery appears to be standard dowel construction. Under the seat, one might expect to find the 'L. Hitchcock. Hitchcocks-ville, Conn. Warranted' stencil, although it is not visible here. The style is quintessentially American Federal/Empire revival influence, emphasizing functional elegance and folk-art decoration.