NEW YORK, 1820-1830

The elegant scrolled lines and vibrant veneered surfaces contrast dynamically with the gilt and verdigris surfaces of the dolphins and paw feet. Popularized by published designs, the classical style of Grecian sofas flourished in fashionable cities of the Northeast between the years of 1820-1830, all incorporating Classical elements, such as the scrolled lines of the back panel, inset crest panel and the dolphin motif. This example from New York represents one of a small group of sofas, most with slight distinguishing characteristics but each including the scrolled arms with dolphin supports. A very similar example is shown here in fig. 1. Other related sofas are seen in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (see Davidson & Stillinger, The American Wing (New York 1985), p. 158), the White House, the Naval Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. (see Fitzgerald 1982, p. 118) and the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia.