Boston Rocker

Art Historical Context

Step into the comforting curves of the *Boston Rocker*, a rendered watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite by Genevieve Sherlock, created around 1940. This 9⅝ × 13¾-inch work captures the essence of a quintessential 19th-century American folk furniture icon: a sturdy rocking chair with a high crest rail, slatted seat, and turned spindles, often adorned with stenciled motifs or painted finishes. Sherlock's precise depiction highlights its ergonomic design, born in Boston workshops during the early 1800s, symbolizing cozy domestic life in Federal-era homes. As part of the Index of American Des...