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Sofa

Attributed to Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland
ca. 1810–20
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 728
This sofa is part of a large suite of seating furniture in the Museum's collection that includes a pair of armchairs, ten side chairs, and two footstools once owned by Thomas Cornell Pearsall, a wealthy New York merchant and shipowner. Other chairs from the set are owned by the Museum of the City of New York. The attribution to Phyfe is based on the set's traditional history of ownership which is recorded in an inscription stamped on the inside of the seat rails on the sofa and several of the chairs. The skillful execution of the details also points to Phyfe. The curule-base design for the suite derives from Greco-Roman seating forms illustrated and described in the 1808 supplement to the London "Chairmakers' and Carvers' Book of Prices."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sofa
  • Maker: Attributed to Duncan Phyfe (American (born Scotland), near Lock Fannich, Ross-Shire, Scotland 1768/1770–1854 New York)
  • Date: ca. 1810–20
  • Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Mahogany, tulip poplar, cane, gilded brass
  • Dimensions: 34 x 84 3/4 x 23 3/4 in. (86.4 x 215.3 x 60.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of C. Ruxton Love Jr., 1960
  • Object Number: 60.4.1
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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Sofa, Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland, Mahogany, gilt brass, tulip poplar, American
Sofa
Duncan Phyfe
1810–20
Side Chair, Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland, Mahogany, ash, tulip poplar, American
Side Chair
Duncan Phyfe
1800–1810
Pianoforte, Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland, Satinwood, rosewood, American
Pianoforte
Duncan Phyfe
Gibson & Davis
1810–15
Side Chair, Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland, Mahogany, ash, cherry, American
Side Chair
Duncan Phyfe
1805–15
Side Chair, Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland, Mahogany, maple, American
Side Chair
Duncan Phyfe
1805–15

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