Decorative arts

Classical mahogany sofa

1 of 2

Type: Decorative arts(Opens in new tab)
Date: ca.1830
Accession number: 91.288.4
Maker: Unknown, American(Opens in new tab) (American)
Dimensions: 34 × 81 × 25 1/2 in. (86.4 × 205.7 × 64.8 cm.) mount: 4 × 36 × 108 in. (10.2 × 91.4 × 274.3 cm.)
Medium: mahogany, pine secondary wood, upholstered
Description: Empire style sofa with a backswept crest rail of figured mahogany venner flanked by a pair of carved bird-heads extended to the figured mahogany venner arm rests, raised on papyrus form arm supports decorated with die-struck flowers and circles continuing to the simple mahogany veneer apron raised on two front feet in teh form of a conventionalized cornucopia on hiary paw feet and turned rear legs, set on metal casters. The rear, back, seat and arms upholstered in modern machine made tapestry fabric decorated with all over floral wreaths.
Credit: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of Dr. Arthur Bond Cecil and Mrs. Henrietta Smith Cecil
Department: American Art
Find out more: View in the Art Museum catalog(Opens in new tab)

Label text

With its back support flanked on either side by the curved neck of a bird (or serpent), mahogany arm rests, and its front feet in the shape of a cornucopia atop diminutive furry animal paws, this sofa was most likely made in rural upstate New York or New England about 1840. Produced outside a major urban center such as Boston, New York, or Philadelphia, this piece suggests the pervasiveness of late neoclassical style and a widespread desire for luxury goods even in the most rural areas of the country.

Classical mahogany sofa

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

You might also be interested in

Classical Landscape

Classical Figure Subject

Two Classical Figures

Lunette with Classical Figures

Classical Building Complete and in Ruins

Classical Building Complete and in Ruins