Nancy Goyne Evans
The Written Evidence of Furniture Repairs and Alterations: How Original Is "All Original?"

American Furniture 2008

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Detail of a desk interior, northeastern Massachusetts or New Hampshire, 1770–1800. Maple with white pine. H. 41 3/8", W. 37 1/4" (feet), D. 20 1/4" (at feet). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 58.2224.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    John Brewster Jr., James Prince and Son, William Henry, 1801. Oil on canvas. 60 3/8" x 60 1/2". (Courtesy, Historical Society of Old Newbury, Newburyport, Massachusetts, gift of William Andrews Currier.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Edward S. Russell, Office of Humphrey Hathaway, at the Head of Rotch’s Wharf, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1819–1873. Pencil sketch, as published in Horatio Hathaway, A New Bedford Merchant (Boston: privately printed at Merymount Press, 1930). (Anonymous collection © The New Bedford Whaling Museum.) In this scene writing desks are depicted in the middle ground and background.

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    William Appleton, secretary-and-bookcase, Salem, Massachusetts, 1795–1804. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with white pine, ebony, and holly. H. 97 1/2" (finial), W. 43 1/4", D. 24 3/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, museum purchase with funds provided by Lammot du Pont Copeland, acc. 53.57.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Chest with lid, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, 1770–1800. Pine with brass and iron. H. 38 1/4", W. 41 3/4", D. 19 3/4". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 70.440.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Designs for chests of drawers illustrated in pl. 52 in George Hepplewhite, Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, 3rd ed. (London, 1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Library, Printed Book and Periodical Collection.) The date on the engraved plate is 1787.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    High chest of drawers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1730–1750. Maple with ash, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 69 3/8", W. 40 1/2" (at cornice), D. 22 11/16" (at feet). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 52.255.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Design for a double chest of drawers (chest-on-chest) illustrated in pl. 53 in George Hepplewhite, Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, 3rd ed. (London, 1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Library, Printed Book and Periodical Collection.) The date on the engraved plate is 1787.

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Bureau, attributed to Jonathan Gostelowe, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1780–1793. Mahogany with yellow poplar and pine. H. 36", W. 47 1/4", D. 26 5/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 59.631.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Levi Ruggles, bureau, Boston, Massachusetts, 1813–1816. Mahogany, mahogany veneer, and birch veneer with pine, glass, brass, and copper. H. 75", W. 38 1/2", D. 23 1/4". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 57.567.)

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Closed rectangular cupboard, Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1775–1800. Yellow poplar, maple, and pine with glass and brass. H. 84 1/2", W. 78" (at cornice), D. 19" (at top of lower case). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 64.1895.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Corner cupboard, Pennsylvania, 1790–1830. Pine and yellow poplar. H. 84", W. 44 1/2", D. 22 1/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pleasants, acc. 94.11.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Dresser, or open rectangular cupboard, Pennsylvania, 1750–1800. American black walnut with yellow poplar. H. 811/4", W. 62 3/4", D. 21 1/8" (feet). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 65.2750.) The cupboard turns, or turn buckles, are replacements.

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Clothespress, attributed to Michael Allison, New York City, 1800–1815. Mahogany, mahogany veneer, and satinwood veneer with yellow poplar, white pine, and brass. H. 99 3/4" (finial), W. 52 1/2" (cornice), D. 24" (cornice). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 57.921.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Design for a sideboard illustrated in pl. 29 in George Hepplewhite, Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, 3rd ed. (London, 1794). (Courtesy, Winterthur Library, Printed Book and Periodical Collection.) The date on the engraved plate is 1787.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Nathaniel Dominy V, tall clock case with movement by Nathaniel Dominy IV, East Hampton, Long Island, New York, 1799. Mahogany with white pine and cherry. H. 92", W. 17" (cornice), D. 9" (cornice). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 57.34.1.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Elisha Tucker, looking glass, Boston, Massachusetts, 1815. Mahogany with white pine and glass. H. 17 1/2", W. 11 1/2", D. 5/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 55.92.1.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Trade card of Robert Kennedy, en­graved by James Smither, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1765–1770. Printed laid paper. 10 3/8" x W. 8 3/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 60.729.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Venetian blind, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1791–1810. Cherry with pine, cotton, and silk. L. 70 5/8", W. 52 1/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 67.557.1.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Bread trough or dough tray, probably Pennsylvania or the South, 1750–1825. Walnut. H. 25 7/8", W. 38 1/8" (top), D. 22 3/8" (top). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 65.2748.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Tray, United States, 1800–1850. Wood. L. 19 7/8", W. 10 13/16". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 67.719.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    John Conger (carver), gingerbread board or mold, retailed by James Y. Watkins, New York City, 1830–1835. Mahogany. H. 15/16", W. 7 1/8", D. 4 1/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 61.1704.)

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Pail, possibly Shaker community of Mount Lebanon, New York, 1850–1900. White pine with iron. H. 71/8", Diam. of top: 10 3/16". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, gift of Robert E. P. Hendrick, acc. 62.50.)

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Lemon squeezer, United States, 1800–1900. Wood with iron. H. 15 7/8", W. 7 3/16", D. 7". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 65.2102.)

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Jacob Hurd, teapot, Boston, Massachusetts, ca. 1750. Silver with fruitwood. H. 6 1/8", W. 9 5/16". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, gift of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 61.937.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Warming pan, attributed to William C. Hunneman, William C. Hunneman Jr., or Samuel H. Hunneman, Boston, Massachusetts, 1799–1825. Copper, wood, and iron. H. 3 5/8", L. 41 1/2", Diam. of pan 10 1/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 60.186.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Fireboard, probably Massachusetts, 1790–1830. White pine. H. 30", W. 39 1/2", D. 1 1/4". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 67.1859.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Jonathan Tyson, flax, or spinning, wheel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1807–1816. Ash with maple, oak, leather, and iron. H. 51", L. 18" (table), W. 6 5/8" (table). (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 72.163.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    John Lewis Krimmel, The Quilting Frolic, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1813. Oil on canvas. 16 7/8" x 22 3/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 53.178.2.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Tape loom, Boston, Massachusetts, or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1760–1775. Cherry. H. 11 1/8", L. 13 1/2", D. 5 1/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, museum purchase with funds provided by Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 56.72.)

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Pipebox, probably Pennsylvania or the South, 1760–1810. Walnut. H. 21 1/4", W. 5 1/4", D. 4". (Formerly in the collection of the Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Watch case, New England, 1750–1800. Pine; glass, brass. H. 10 1/4", W. 3", D. 2 1/4". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, museum purchase with funds provided by Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 59.4.17.)

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Tea chest, possibly New York City, 1790–1810. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with yellow poplar, white pine, silver, tin, and baize. H. 5 1/8", W. 8 13/16", D. 5". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, gift of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 61.1690.) Silver plaque at front of lid engraved with initials “J [or I] McM.”

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of an umbrella, United States, 1800–1875. Cotton, wood, brass, and iron. L. 39". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 58.2864.)

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    C. W. Wirths and Brothers, ice skates, Remscheid, Germany, ca. 1833, probably imported into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wood, iron, and leather. L. 13 3/16", W. 2 9/16". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, bequest of Henry Francis du Pont, acc. 65.1978.1 and .2.) The Smithsonian Institution owns a related pair of skates with acorn-tipped scrolls at the front and also stamped by Wirths and Brothers. Research indicates that the Wirths Company exported 600 pairs of skates to Christian Hesser in Philadelphia on August 12, 1833. Skates of similar design are visible in Dutch and Flemish genre paintings of village life. Early Dutch and Flemish paintings of rural winter scenes with skaters illustrate similar curved-prow skates.