Trying to ID a morris chair is not that simple. I lucked into this forum and a post about another rocker where I read that the regular members enjoy the challenge of sorting out the details of manufactures.
I was given this rocker yesterday. If it's an everyday, nothing special chair I will cherish it. If it were to have some real value I'll have to return it. No markings of any kind. Only two nail heads spaced approx. two and a half inches apart on the inside of the front rail that more than likely held a name tag at one time. Can any one be of help? Thanks.

Hello Flash,
Again welcome the the forums. That chair is a nice reclining rocker that could have been made by a Stickley or Morris or even Roycroft but I doubt it because they would have placed their mark on it somewhere or applied a lable.

The seat would be built on a wood bottom and some even had springs with batten and fabric covering all of it. The back cushion had no springs that I know of. I have refinished several of the same style but, I am not in the position of any evluation.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Flash,
Welcome to the forum.

Your chair does seem to be a piece of quality furniture. Pros: nice quadrilinear posts, corbels, nice finish. Cons: it's a rocker, no label, no seat, no cushion, reclining mechanisms replaced?

Rockers are just not as desirable as Morris chairs. I did a search on Rago for Morris Rockers, and found that even with none of the "cons" that your chair has, (except the part about being a rocker), they go for about $1200. You will have quite an expense yourself when you have to have the seat and cushion made.

If you could post an image of the reclining mechanism - that might help get a positive id.

Lauren

Ralph, Lauren, thanks for responding to my post. Below is a side view that includes some detail of the back pegs. Two are not original, the other two could be...I do have the seat, it's constructed of white oak. Confident it's original to the rocker. I ommitted it in the first post for a better view of the structure. If there were springs they have been replaced by jute webbing and foam. The back cushion is foam.
I'm really a bit confounded by all the different makers and styles offered. Endless variations. Even the most basic chairs can vary in value to an extreme. The rocker was a gift from a sweet elderly lady that knew I would treasure it. If it was of extra ordinary value I would feel obligated to return it. Looks like it has a new home.
New problem: now I need a sofa and a couple chairs for the living room.

Hello again Flash,
Since you have indicated that the bottom has foam in it as well as the back cushion indicates to me that it has been refinished and the original seat and back cushion also has foam it was refurbished with rather than the original materials which does take the value down but, you do still have a nice chair.

You might get a licensed appraiser to look at it but don't expect too much in the line of value.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Your morris rocker has some characteristics of a Gustav Stickley Morris chair (his "least expensive model") however, it was never offered as a rocker option. L & JG did offer rocker versions of their morris chair, but I don't recall them offering this style. Gus used the separate adjustable pegs. But the back slats of all his chairs always had the comfortble bend to cradle the back cushion. This has flat slats.
L & JG offered the morris rocker, but with slat side form (the 498 etc) which had slats on the side from the arm rest to the seat rail. Plus, they used an adjustable bar for the back. And the back slats were curved as well. This could be Charles Stickley who copied a lotof Gus' designs. Hard to tell without a mark and there isn't much published as far a a catalog on Charle's and Brandt. As Ralph pointed out, a rocker morris doesn't have the same higher value that a regular morris chair would have, unless it is a signed or recognized Limbert or L & JG. And those models were much heavier and stockier.
You might want to send a picture to John Toomey galleries or David Rago for further analysis.

Flash,
I would like to add to what Dave stated. Regardless of who made the chair hie/she did a fine job as the position of the front legs are exactly where they are supposed to be and the is 1" from the front of the rocker to the center of the tenon that is placed into the mortise. Also the side rails are most definitely tenoned in a fashion that when the back rail is tenoned into it's mortise the tenons will have to be cut on a 45º so the tenons can meet in the middle of the two mortises and that makes for a good sound joint.
When a craftsman uses this method he/she is adding to the value of said chair or any other piece of furniture where this method is used.

Whether one of the afore mentioned craftsmen made the chair does not matter as whom ever made this particular piece took his/her time in doing so, and in my opinion he/she were true craftsmen.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Thanks for the additional information gentle men. One observation I have made is that the entire back just does not look the same as the arms/seat assembly. The feel is different somehow. Could be someone tried their hand at refinishing and only got as far as the back and nothing more. Not trying to reach for anything, only an observation. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth".
I can't help but admire the craftmanship involved in putting one of these together. Good, honest joinery, great style and design. Thanks again for all the input.
If I can help with any upholstery related questions just let me know. Not an Arts and Crafts upholstery expert by any stretch but I'm willing to offer assistance for what that's worth...Bern