Atlanta porch rocker circa 1890

With Father's Day just around the corner, I am always reminded that my own father who has long ago passed away looked forward to seeing what his youngest daughter thought up for his special day.  As the baby of the family, I agree I was somewhat spoiled by him.  Being ever so appreciative, I felt it my duty to surprise him with something truly special to honor him on his day even though I was far too young to make the actual purchase.  For that purpose, my mother and siblings were willing to conspire with me knowing that it would please him so.  

I think his favorite gifts were always those that contributed to his leisure for which he had little time between working, gardening, tending the animals on our mini farm and driving us to and from our elocution, dance, acrobat and singing lessons, girl scouts, boy scouts and church.  My favorite gifts to him were a stand alone hammock which stood in our front yard every summer (and which I spent summer days reading Nancy Drew) until the metal base rusted and split, and a wicker rocker that served me more than him as he rocked me to sleep in his lap.     

Antique Bar Harbor chaise circa 1920

That hammock and rocker are long gone, but the wicker rocker represents memories of childhood I will never forget.  That is the sort of story I heard over and over for years from travelers and locals alike who were unable to drive by my antique shop on a busy highway in Maine, a shop whose storefront was a turn of the century Victorian farmhouse with a porch covered with antique rockers, tables, chairs and the like, all woven here in America before 1930, before that manufacturing industry too, left for China.  Today, that shop no longer exists, but I am sure that the thousands of pieces of wicker that I repaired, refinished, repainted and rewove are still around.

Reproduction Bar Harbor chaise

If my father were alive today, I would no doubt surprise him with my favorite leisurely piece of all, the chaise longue.  Around for centuries, the chaise is the ultimate single most idyllic piece of furniture whose sole purpose is to promote laziness,  goofing off, rest and relaxation. As far as wicker goes, the chaise was part of every collection from Victorian ornate to Art Deco stark and all were equally decadent.  Today the reproduction Bar Harbor chaise longue is as good as it was 100 years ago.  I think in memory of my father, that is where I will spend his day.