Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Maloof style rockers
John K Jordan
I've never tried sitting in one of these until yesterday. Wow, it was one of the most comfortable chairs ever - my back never felt better.
Our friend said he has probably made a dozen or so over the years. Before he retired he even kept one in his office at work as a visitor's chair.
His house is interesting too. Cabinets in the laundry made from goncolo alves. Flooring of guatambu and bubinga. It goes on and on.
JKJ
Re: Maloof style rockers
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
I think I recognize the maker. Never been to his house though. Never sat in one of his chairs either, but I have seen them. Frankly, they always looked like they would be uncomfortable, especially with the enhanced seat ridge, or whatever it is called. Thanks for the report that they are indeed comfy.
Seems like it would take making a dozen before one chair got perfected which is why I have avoided chairs.
If you get back there treat us to pictures of some of the case pieces.
Enhanced seat ridge
Jack Guzman from Maine
The enhanced seat ridge is called a pommel.
Technical description
Jim Matthews
”Frankly, they always looked like they would be uncomfortable, especially with the enhanced seat ridge, or whatever it is called."
The original text describes this as the "Schplitzha".
(I think that's Czech)
Re: Technical description
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
"Schplitzha"......what a male exclaimed when they straddled it? 
I never found this feature made a seat attractive either.
Re: Technical description
Barry Irby
Many years ago, my son and I attended a seminar with Sam Maloof, back when he was alive, at Highland Hardware in Atlanta. Bought him lunch. Sat in some of his chairs. They are quite comfortable in spite of the pommel, or maybe because of it.
Pommel
Yonak
Indeed, what is the point of the pommel, so to speak ? It seems like it would restrict your seating to a single position, aside from being uncomfortable if you sat down uncautiously.
Re: Maloof style rockers
jessecloud
Bill, I share your trepidation about building a Maloof chair. I have made many chairs, including a set of six in our dining room, but I would be loath to try a Maloof.
The joinery isn't particularly hard, I have used it on other projects. But much of the shaping in free-hand, done with a combination of angle grinders, gouges, and spokeshaves. Maloof had a design technique of "hard lines" which emphasize the basic structure and "soft lines" which are less pronounced and roughly parallel to hard lines. The soft lines are responsible for much of the "organic" look and feel of the chair.
That part, I think, must take a lot of talent, a good eye, and lots of practice. Not something I want to try this late in life.
All different
John K Jordan
I found the chair in the foreground extremely comfortable, both when sitting straight feet on the floor, with legs crossed, when turned a bit to converse, leaning back. Even the arm rests were perfect for me. (Mo said he sized that one for someone a bit taller.) If he would sell it I'd buy that rocker in a heartbeat.
OTOH, the second one on the right in the other picture was not nearly as comfortable for me although my eyes couldn't see what was different about it.
He had no plans or measurements, just some photos he took of one he saw years ago, so each one he made was a little different in dimension and shape of the curves. He said he learned as he built them what made them more comfortable for different people.
And the central seat "ridge" is not nearly as pronounced as it looks in the photos - the first one just looks that way from the camera angle and the light. I also liked the color and pattern on the seat, walnut boards with heartwood and sapwood combined to give soft color gradients. The cell phone snapshot doesn't even come close to the essence.
JKJ
Design Question
Yonak
I wonder what the purpose is of the scalloped areas at the front edge of the seat. If support under the legs is not needed, why not trim the protrusions back to the edge where the legs rest ? It looks terribly Gothic to me. Strictly my opinion of course. Also, it seems like it may hinder exiting from the chair if one were headed in any direction but straight out .. might cause the chair to spin thrusting the rocker into your sleeping dog. (My mind tends to wander.)
Re: Maloof style rockers
Chad Pearson
Having been to Maloof's shop a few times, I have sat in a quite a few different original Maloof rockers. All of them were quite comfortable. However, I have never tried one of Hal Taylor's. I have always wanted to try one because the flexible back slats look like an interesting adaptation.
Has anybody tried both types to compare?
CP
Re: Design Question
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
If I correctly guess who made the rocker he put what many would judge odd adornments in most, if not all his furniture. His Period inspired pieces will not be mistaken for a reproduction. He does exceptional work but his design tastes don't travel in my lane. It may be in the Knoxville air for the famous cabinet maker Emmet also added unusual changes to his Period inspired pieces.
Extensio ad absurdam... *LINK*
Jim Matthews
The original design is subdued.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/famous-his-rocking-chair-sam-maloof-made-furniture-had-soul-180958943/