Sofa

William Hancock

1826–28 · Mahogany, maple, chestnut, rosewood · The American Wing

The design for this Greek Revival sofa was probably taken from the "Grecian Sofa" in plate two of Thomas Sheraton's "Cabinet Encyclopedia" (London, 1805). A sofa similar to this one embellished William Hancock's advertisements during the 1820s. The dating of this sofa correlates to an item in Boston's "Evening Gazette" during March 1827, in which Hancock's "Furniture and Upholstery Ware House" was located at the same address as on this sofa label; in 1830 he described his firm as "late of Market Street." Hancock, active in Boston from about 1820 through 1849, however, may have only upholstered this sofa, as there is no evidence that he did anything other than upholster and sell the work of others.

Artist

William Hancock

Date

1826–28

Medium

Mahogany, maple, chestnut, rosewood

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. William W. Hoppin, 1948