Philip D. Zimmerman
Innovation in the Janvier Furniture Shop of Odessa, Delaware, 1770-1810

American Furniture 2017

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Tall clock with case by John Janvier Sr., Elkton, Maryland, and movement by Benjamin Chandlee, Nottingham, Pennsylvania, 1770-1774. Mahogany with tulip poplar and hard pine. H. 101 1/2", W. 21 1/4", D. 11 1/8". (Courtesy, Biggs Museum of American Art; photo, Carson Zullinger.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Rear view, showing the stacked backboards of the tall clock illustrated in fig. 1.

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Detail of the printed label of John Janvier pasted on the inside backboards of the tall clock illustrated in fig. 1.

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Card table, probably New York City, 1795–1805. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 28 1/2", W. 33 3/4", D. 18" (closed). (Courtesy, New-York Historical Society.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Detail showing the conventional horizontal lamination of the rail of a Rhode Island card table, 1795–1805. (Courtesy, Stanley Weiss Collection; photo, Marc Beaulac.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Detail of the vertical laminations forming the rail of the card table illustrated in fig. 4.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Tall clock with case by Thomas Janvier, Odessa, Delaware, and movement by Duncan Beard and Christopher Weaver, Odessa, Delaware, 1792. Mahogany with yellow pine and tulip poplar. H. 100", W. 21 3/8", D. 10 3/4". (Courtesy, Biggs Museum of American Art; photo, Carson Zullinger.) The scrolls and feet are replacements, and the pediment has been extended 1 3/8 inches to accommodate a replacement blind fretwork.

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Tall clock with case by James McDowell and Daniel McDowell, Smyrna, Delaware, 1793–1800. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 96 1/2", W. 19 3/4", D. 10 1/4". (Private collection, photograph courtesy of Israel Sack, Inc. Archives, Yale University Art Gallery.)

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Detail of the label pasted to a horizontally grained backboard on the tall clock illustrated in fig. 8.

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Tall clock with case by John Janvier Sr., Odessa, Delaware, 1795. Walnut with white cedar and tulip poplar. H. 94 3/4", W. 21 1/8", D. 11 3/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Detail of the handwritten label pasted to the inside center of backboards on the tall clock illustrated in fig. 10.

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Tall clock with case by John Janvier Sr., Odessa, Delaware, 1779, movement by ­Duncan Beard. Mahogany with unidentified secondary woods. H. 97", W. 21", D. 11" (approximate). (Courtesy, Leslie Miller and Richard Worley.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Detail showing the inscription inside the waist door of the tall clock illustrated in fig. 12. 

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Chest of drawers by John Janvier Jr., Odessa, Delaware, probably 1806. Mahogany with cherry, tulip poplar, yellow pine, and white cedar. H. 33 5/8", W. 39 1/8", D. 22". (Courtesy, Historic Odessa Foundation; photo, Carson Zullinger.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Detail of the inscription on the outside case bottom of the chest illustrated in fig. 14.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Chest of drawers by Peregrine Janvier, Odessa, Delaware, 1804. Mahogany with tulip poplar, yellow pine, and white cedar. H. 34 3/4", W. 41 1/4", D. 22 3/4". (Courtesy, Biggs Museum of American Art; photo, Carson Zullinger.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Detail of the half-dovetail groove cut into the top of the chest illustrated in fig. 14.

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Detail of the interior glue blocks securing the top of the chest illustrated in fig. 14.

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Detail of the glue blocks along the underside edges of a drawer from the chest illustrated in fig. 14.

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Chest of drawers by John Macdonough, Odessa, Delaware, 1807. Mahogany with tulip poplar, white cedar, and oak. H. 34 7/8", W. 41", D. 23 1/2". (Courtesy, Biggs Museum of American Art; photo, Carson Zullinger.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Detail of one of the half-dovetail grooves and wooden plugs in the top of the chest illustrated in fig. 20.

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Sideboard by John Janvier Jr., Odessa, Delaware, 1812. Mahogany with tulip poplar, oak, and white pine or white cedar. H. 52 1/4", W. 72 3/8", D. 29 7/8". (Private collection; photo, Carson Zullinger.)

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Table, eastern Pennsylvania, 1740–1770. Walnut with tulip poplar. H. 29", W. 41", D. 26 1/2". (Courtesy, Monmouth County Historical Association, Freehold, N.J.; photo, McKay Imaging.)

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Detail of the dovetailed cleat and pins (missing from holes) securing the top of the table illustrated in fig. 23.

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Chest of drawers, Odessa, Delaware, 1790–1810. Cherry with tulip poplar. H. 36 1/8", W. 40 1/4", D. 22 3/4". (Courtesy, Biggs Museum of American Art; photo, Carson Zullinger.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Detail of the inscription on the outside bottom of the chest illustrated in fig. 25. 

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Detail of the foot construction of the chest illustrated in fig. 25. The rounded glue block is a later addition.

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Detail of the construction of the left rear foot of the chest illustrated in fig. 25.