Window Seat

D. Phyfe & Son

1841 · Rosewood veneer; pine, yellow poplar (secondary woods); reproduction upholstery with original upholstery foundation · The American Wing

This architectural window seat is one of four from Millford, the Greek Revival mansion built in 1841 for plantation owner John Laurence Manning in South Carolina. On a visit to New York City, Manning ordered a large set of furniture from cabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe, who provided high-style furnishings to customers around the country. The sleek, curvaceous lines of this window seat exemplify the prevailing Grecian Plain style popular during the 1820s to 1840s. The curved forms and decorative motifs reference ancient Greek art and architecture as well as classical notions of beauty and patriotism, ideals that were widely celebrated as the United States cultivated a national style.

Artist

D. Phyfe & Son

Date

1841

Medium

Rosewood veneer; pine, yellow poplar (secondary woods); reproduction upholstery with original upholstery foundation

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of J. Nicholas Wilson, 2006