American classical furniture 1810-40: regional identities in the Schrimsher collection

Abstract

"Kelly C. and Randall A. Schrimsher began collecting American Classical decorative art in the mid-1980s. Their notable collection comprises hundreds of pieces of furniture by some of the most celebrated cabinetmakers from the key centers of Classical furniture production in the United States: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Past literature on American Classical furniture has studied the production centers in relative isolation; however, this catalogue's approach explores the rich artistic exchanges and rivalries that existed between the four cities including a selection of works by foremost cabinetmakers Duncan Phyfe, Charles-Honor Lannuier, Isaac Vose, William Hancock, John and Hugh Finlay, Anthony Quervelle, and Joseph Barry. A lively export trade introduced Classical wares from these major centers of production to key ports across the United States."-- From back of cover

Contents

Foreword / Matthew A. Thurlow. -- Introduction: the rediscovery of the ancient world and its impact on American taste / Wendy a. Cooper and Kimberly E. Schrimsher. -- A revolution of style and taste in Boston and Salem / Clark Pearce. -- Perfectly fitted, burnished, and bronzed: the classical furniture of New York / Peter M. Kenny. -- Fashionable patterns/splendid assortments: classical Philadelphia furniture / Alexandra Alevizatos Kirtley. -- Baltimore classical furniture in the Schrimsher collection / Gregory R. Weidman. -- Seats of democracy in Washington, D.C.: chairs for the nation's capital / Matthew A. Thurlow. -- Form, motif, and ornament in classical furniture / Christine Thomson and Wendy A. Cooper.