Family Heirloom Rocker

A rocker restored for the great-granddaughter of its original owner, with new hand-turned reed scrollwork in the back.

Era

Family heirloom

Work

Frame repair and new hand-turned reed scrollwork

Kim took on this rocker for the great-granddaughter of its original owner. The frame was in very poor condition but usable, and the decorative reed scrollwork in the back needed to be remade.

The reeds were steamed and turned by hand, many hours of work, using a handle made more than 25 years ago by the late blacksmith and artist Jr. Strasil. Kim tried two designs for the scrolls across the top and chose the simpler one.

“Sentiment from being the original owner's great-granddaughter and my willingness to accept the challenge are the only things that make it worthwhile,” Kim wrote when he started. “Very time consuming and frustrating, but I'm digging it.”