help ID 80s (??) rocking chair  

Yeah, a period piece for sure. My initial response is that it's a one-off, possibly student work from the early American Studio Furniture Movement, 1970's or later. Red oak, carefully-crafted joinery, experimental design.

In what region of N America was it acquired?

thanks, tktoo - at least i know i'm not a dunce missing a super obvious answer. the set was acquired in new mexico.

Here's the "Hawaiian" version -- looks exactly the same, despite poor image quality.

Huh. They do appear identical except for perhaps wood species. I guess that means at least limited production!

The design still feels somehow unrefined to me with all elements sharing similar sectional dimensions, but that's of no help.

Is it at all comfortable? Do you know if the other chair originated in Hawaii?

OK, got it. Stephen Hynson, Maui. Maybe formerly, Portland, OR.

http://www.stephenhynson.com/Stephen_Hynson/Furniture.html#39

Actually the chair is super comfortable, because the dowels follow a nice, lower-back-supporting curve. And doesn't pitch too far forward, an issue I note with a lot of rockers. I always question the use of an ottoman with a rocking chair though.....

Unfortunately I don't know the provenance of the Hawaiian example.

I totally agree re: your design comments. I DO think the formal austerity totally *works* in this case (it doesn't seem like they bit off more than they could chew), but it suggests a creator maybe trying to achieve a certain look with a limited skill set.

Oh! Just saw your comment with the link! Amazing work, thank you!

I just did an image search for "modern dowel rocking chair" and spotted it right away.

Really, it was nothing. Glad to help.