One thing I have not emphasized in these posts is the importance of finish on rocking chairs. Ludwig hand rubs eight coats of oil and beeswax on every one of his. That is an extraordinary amount of work but it is worth every minute when you see the luster it creates.
Ludwig learned about making rocking chairs from Maloof himself. You can certainly see Maloof's influence, but, as Ludwig says, the design of his chairs "will probably continue to evolve the rest of [his] life."
Check out more of Dean Ludwig's chairs and his gallery of other furniture at www.deanludwig.com.