Sam Maloof Rocking Chair: An Iconic Piece

Sam Maloof is a prominent figure in the 20th century Studio Craft movement. Maloof is known as a trailblazing furniture maker known for rich woodcuts, fine joinery, and sculptural designs. Maloof’s dedication to functionality and his standalone vision made him a leader in the Studio Craft movement, and of all of his unique pieces, his series of rocking chairs are some of his most beloved and recognizable works.

What Makes Sam Maloof Rocking Chairs So Special?

To understand what makes the Sam Maloof rocking chair so iconic, consider the point in art and architectural history in which Maloof rose to popularity.

Sam Maloof was living and working in Los Angeles in the 1950s as the modern design movement was taking root and spreading through not only circles of patrons and artists themselves, but also interior designers and architects. Maloof’s work was considered timeless, featuring warm tones and hand-sculpted details. Sam Maloof’s walnut furniture gained exposure through annual “California Design” shows, as well as other exhibits of contemporary-style home furnishings. The furniture was a perfect fit for the increasingly popular spare, open-plan interiors of modernist Southern California residences, an explosive architectural and interior movement throughout this decade. Architects, decorators, and homeowners clamored to order from the one-man shop of Sam Maloof, and with the popularity of his classic design came national fame via the press.

The Ethos of the Sam Maloof Rocking Chair

Maloof’s rocking chairs became an especially paradigmatic example of his overall ethos and design sensibilities. In general, the rocking chair encapsulates a spirit reflected in Sam Maloof’s unique vision: harkening back to a historic notion of handcrafting and simplicity, and rejecting overly ornate, modernist creations. Rocking chairs themselves evoke a quaint vision of history, throughout which craftsmanship and functionality reigned supreme in the world of furniture design.

In particular, Sam Maloof had perfected the creation of rocking chairs. Maloof worked with warm and durable woodcuts, carving the curvature of each rocking chair by hand. He created expressive variations in subtle ways—through spindles, armrests, wood color variations, and other details. Despite the many variations of Sam Maloof rocking chairs, their functional build and sleek-yet-quaint aesthetics became representative of Maloof’s work.

About The Artist: Sam Maloof Biography and Examples

Sam Maloof was born and raised by Lebanese immigrant parents in Chino, California. His career began as a graphic artist in industry prior to World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army. After the war, Maloof resumed his artistic career, serving as a studio assistant to the artist-designer Millard Sheets, of Claremont, California.

Maloof was invited to participate in the 1957 debut exhibit of the American Craft Museum in New York, “Furniture by Craftsmen,” and later that year attended the American Crafts Council (ACC)’s first national conference in Alisomar, California, where participants discovered their shared dedication to working with their hands in an increasingly technological society. This positioned him in a budding movement, which only grew in popularity and credibility, and Maloof soon emerged as a leader, beginning a 25-year long tenure as an ACC trustee and a tireless spokesperson for handcraftsmanship.

This 1969 quote encapsulates the vision that drove Maloof’s career: “I want to be able to work a piece of wood into an object that contributes something beautiful and useful to our everyday living. To be able to work with materials without destroying their natural beauty and warmth, to be able to work as we want—that is a God-given privilege.”

By 1970, Sam Maloof was a notable leader of studio furniture makers, who pioneered the post-WWII aesthetic: revering the beauty of hardwoods, sculptural and simple pieces, and functionality-first designs. The influence of this group of artists created a wave that ripples through furniture design and the Studio Craft movement to this day.

Examples of Sam Maloof Furniture

Below you will find some examples of Sam Maloof Furniture, all of which are available for purchase through Moderne Gallery.

Sam Maloof
Early Rocker, 1968
28 × 46 × 45 in (W x D x H)
71.12 x 116.84 x 114.3 cm
California walnut with black leather seat

More Sam Maloof Studio Craft Furniture

Sam Maloof
High Back Dining Chair, 1983
20.5 × 22.5 × 42 in (W x D x H)
52.07 x 57.15 x 106.68 cm
California Walnut

Sam Maloof
Important Console | Pair, c. 1990
147.5 × 47 × 31 in (W x D x H)
374.65 x 119.38 x 78.74 cm
Maple, California walnut

Sam Maloof Furniture at Moderne Gallery

Moderne Gallery is proud to be a leading authenticator and purveyor of Sam Maloof furniture– browse the rest of our Maloof catalog on our website.