The Lishman Rocker — William “Bill” Lishman, Canada, 1970s.
An extraordinary and exceptionally rare sculptural rocking chair designed by Canadian artist, inventor and aviation pioneer William “Bill” Lishman (1939–2017), and manufactured by his own company, William Lishman & Associates Ltd. in Blackstock, Ontario, Canada.
Originally conceived in the mid-1970s and produced in very limited numbers, with approximately 400 examples reportedly made, the Lishman Rocker represents a fascinating combination of sculpture, furniture design and engineering.
Its remarkable construction consists of elegantly curved tubular steel forming a continuous, almost weightless-looking structure, complemented by a sculptural cast-metal seat and backrest. The flowing, elliptical lines create a striking sense of movement, making the chair appear almost like a piece of kinetic art.
What makes this design even more fascinating is the extraordinary story of its creator.
William Lishman was far more than a furniture designer. A Canadian sculptor, filmmaker, inventor and self-taught aviation engineer, he became one of the pioneers of ultralight aviation, designing and building his own aircraft.
He later gained international recognition for his remarkable experiments teaching migrating geese to follow his ultralight aircraft, helping them establish new migration routes. His pioneering work earned him the nickname “Father Goose” and inspired the acclaimed 1996 film Fly Away Home, starring Jeff Daniels and Anna Paquin.
Beyond aviation, Lishman created monumental sculptures, experimental architectural structures and his remarkable underground residence in Ontario, reflecting his lifelong fascination with unconventional forms, movement and engineering.
The Lishman Rocker remains one of his most distinctive furniture designs, representing a rare intersection of art, engineering and unconventional design thinking.
An exceptional and increasingly difficult-to-find piece of Canadian design history, created by one of the most unconventional and fascinating creative minds of the 20th century.
Price €12,000
As we specialize in vintage furniture, signs of age and use are inevitable and part of the natural character and charm of these pieces.
We therefore only highlight more significant imperfections or damage through additional photographs. Nevertheless, we always make every effort to document and represent the condition of our items as accurately and honestly as possible.
This item is subject to the margin taxation scheme in accordance with Section 25a of the German VAT Act (UStG). VAT will therefore not be shown separately on the invoice.
