Armchair
Collections:
Classification:
Is owned by NYHS:
Yes
Date:
1785-1789
Medium:
Mahogany; pine, poplar
Dimensions:
Overall: 37 3/4 x 24 1/2 x 21 in. ( 95.9 x 62.2 x 53.3 cm )
Description:
Mahogany Federal-style armchair; tri-lobed crest rail, straight stiles, and pierced slat with interlacing design with a central four-leaf flower with bellflowers below; serpentine arms; square seat upholstered over the rail with serpentine front rail and brass tacks at lower edge; square molded legs with side, rear, and medial stretchers; brass plaques affixed beneath seat rail describes use of chair in inaugurations of Washington, Grant, and Garfield; seat reupholstered.
Credit Line:
Gift of Edmund B. Southwick
Object Number:
1916.7
Marks:
Label: brass plaque on crest rail (left) inscribed "USED BY PRESIDENT U.S. GRANT/ AT HIS INAUGURATION MARCH 4, 1873"
Label: brass plaque on crest rail (center) inscribed "CHAIR USED AT THE INAUGURATION OF/ GEORGE WASHINGTON/ AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITE
Gallery Label:
After being sworn in as president of the United States on the balcony of New York City's Federal Hall on April 30, 1789, George Washington sat in this armchair in the Senate chamber, where he delivered his inaugural address to members of Congress. The chair was subsequently used for the inaugurations of Ulysses S. Grant in 1873 and James A. Garfield in 1881.
Provenance:
Federal Hall, New York City; to William Coventry Henry Waddell (1802-1844); to his descendant Edmund B. Southwick
Bibliography:
Bach, Debra Schmidt. "Witness to history: Furniture and historic relics." The Magazine Antiques 167 (2005): 162-167.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1789
eMuseum Object ID:
28481
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Writing desk
Classification:
Date:
1800-1825
Medium:
Wood, brass, metal, textile, glass, ivory, wax
Dimensions:
Desk: 7 1/2 x 20 x 11 3/4 in. (19.1 x 50.8 x 29.8 cm)
Description:
Rectangular wooden veneered writing desk with flat, hinged lid, rounded edges bound in brass, border defined by thin inlaid strip of brass with decorative fleur-de-lis motifs inside each corner, panel of darker wood at center, brass handles with elaborately shaped mounts flush with each side of desk, and circular brass lock on front of desk; one handle functions as pull for additional drawer that stretches full length of desk; desk opens out to reveal slanted writing surface covered in brown velvet, leading up to set of five compartments at highest end of open desk, with thin compartment extending length of desk in between; one end of writing surface lifts up to reveal compartment containing two red leather wallets, other end attached at each side with brass latch; other compartments contain two pieces of red sealing wax, metal key, colorless glass ink bottle with brass lid, seal with long shaft, pencil stub, ink pen, and flat ivory spatula; also, wooden lid at one corner with ivory pull.
Credit Line:
Gift of Hayward Cleveland
Object Number:
1941.276a-h
Marks:
impressed: on top of lock: "[crown]/PATENT"
impressed: around edge of ink bottle cap: "NEPLUS ULTRA"
incised: on stamp (backwards): difficult to read
Gallery Label:
According to accession records, this writing desk belonged to Captain William Cleveland (1777-1842), great-grandfather of the donor, and was brought from Canton, China in 1833.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1825
eMuseum Object ID:
28448
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Desk
Classification:
Date:
1840-1900
Medium:
Mahogany
Dimensions:
Overall: 40 1/2 x 44 1/2 x 29 in. ( 102.9 x 113 x 73.7 cm )
Description:
Mahogany desk with stepped rectangular top with three drawers in rear and hinged front; three additional drawers in lower case; four columnar legs with ring-turned capital, reeded shaft, ring-turned base, and ball foot.
Object Number:
Z.996
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
28445
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Table
Classification:
Date:
1875-1925
Medium:
Wood, paint
Dimensions:
Overall: 26 1/4 x 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 in. ( 66.7 x 32.1 x 32.1 cm )
Description:
Table with square top supported on tripod base made of branches; top trimmed with lengths of twig on all four sides and decorated with leaf motif painted in white; tripod braced by multiple twig "stretchers" accented with white paint.
Object Number:
Z.995
Marks:
handwritten in pencil: on tag attached to base: "GANYS"
Provenance:
500; 7E
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1925
eMuseum Object ID:
28443
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Chest
Classification:
Date:
1850-1925
Medium:
Wood, paint
Dimensions:
Overall: 5 1/2 x 17 5/8 x 10 7/8 in. ( 14 x 44.8 x 27.6 cm )
Description:
Rectangular wooden chest with hinged lid and green-painted interior; missing escutcheons from keyhole and from center top.
Object Number:
Z.992
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1925
eMuseum Object ID:
28440
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Bedstead
Classification:
Date:
1810-1825
Medium:
Mahogany, pine, gilding, silk
Dimensions:
Overall: 110 1/2 x 62 x 81 in. ( 280.7 x 157.5 x 205.7 cm )
Description:
Four-poster high-post double bedstead with tester. Tester frame with gadrooned rails alternating black-painted and gilded sections; square corner blocks with carved and gilded lion's heads; gilded mount with two facing birds screws to center of tester; beige silk fabric nailed to underside of tester. Four octagonal turned and reeded posts which taper towards top; four leaf-carved turned extension posts which fit onto top of posts and receive tester; base of posts are block-turned, have corner blocks with carved lion's heads, and end in leaf-carved legs with paw feet and brass casters. Three carved wooden caster cups (one missing). Headboard, held between blocks of posts, with two square inset panels and reeded columns at sides; footboard (possibly replaced) a solid panel with two semi-circular cut-outs on each side. Eleven rectangular slats fit into rabbets in bed rails.
Credit Line:
Gift of the Heirs of Philip Schuyler through Miss Grace Schuyler Luze
Object Number:
INV.15023
Gallery Label:
This bed is from the guest room of the Old Schuylerville House in Saratoga County, New York. According to Historical Society records, Lafayette slept in this bed in 1824.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1825
eMuseum Object ID:
28439
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Tramp art box
Collections:
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1885-1890
Medium:
Wood (formerly a cigar box, probably cedar), metal, paint
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 3/8 x 12 x 6 1/2 in. ( 16.2 x 30.5 x 16.5 cm )
Description:
Chip-carved wooden (tramp art) box with four faceted and stepped sides including hinged lid with back panel and inside of lid advertising cigar maker; reddish exterior.
Credit Line:
Gift of Elie Nadelman
Object Number:
1938.374
Marks:
painted: on back image of cuffed male's hand holding smoking cigar with "TRADE MARK" at cuff's edge
printed: and ingrained under lid: "LEWYN AND MARTIN'S/A. 1./CIGARS" with same trademark smoking hand
Gallery Label:
This box is an example of "Tramp art," which was produced in the United States from 1875 to 1930 by itinerant, largely anonymous makers. Items were made out of old cigar boxes and fruit and vegetable crates, with chip-carved edges and layering.
Provenance:
The Folk Art Collection of Elie Nadelman
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1890
eMuseum Object ID:
28434
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Member's desk and lectern
Classification:
Date:
1785-1810
Medium:
Mahogany, mahogany veneer; poplar
Dimensions:
Desk: 30 x 22 1/8 x 14 1/4 in. ( 76.2 x 56.2 x 36.2 cm )
Part (lectern): 16 x 22 x 20 in. (40.6 x 55.9 x 50.8 cm)
Description:
Mahogany Federal desk ("a") with carved eagle lectern ("b") said to have been used in Federal Hall; desk with slightly slanting top with three rectangular wells at back, corner blocks with carved oval motif, a single front drawer, and tapering cylindrical legs with fluting; lower portion of front legs with stop-fluting and bulbous feet; lower portion of rear legs with stop-fluting only; lectern with slanted top supported by a carved eagle with outstretched wings atop a stepped rectangular base.
Credit Line:
Purchase, Edward C. Delafield Fund
Object Number:
1958.18ab
Marks:
inscribed: on brass plaque affixed to front of lectern base: "M. C. S. to J. S. / May 21, 1820 / Ethel Sparks / 1887."
inscribed: on silver(?) plaque affixed to back of desk: "Desk of the First Constitutional Congress / City of New York 1789. / JARED SP
Gallery Label:
Edward C. Taylor, a previous owner, signed an affidavit in 1964 in which he stated that the desk and lectern had come into his hands through "direct descendants" of Jared Sparks (1789-1866), clergyman, historian, and President of Harvard University from 1849 to 1853. The desk appears to have been cut down from a much larger desk and the lectern may be a modern addition.
Provenance:
Purchased by the Society from Israel Sack, Inc., New York, 1958.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1810
eMuseum Object ID:
28406
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Footstool
Classification:
Date:
1815-1825
Medium:
Mahogany, pine, textile
Dimensions:
Overall: 17 1/4 x 19 x 14 in. ( 43.8 x 48.3 x 35.6 cm )
Description:
Mahogany Empire footstool; rectangular curule form with top upholstered in Gobelins tapestry with floral motif on light brown ground; X-shaped supports joined by a ball-and-ring-turned stretcher and terminating in small bun feet.
Credit Line:
Permanent Loan from the Beekman Family Association
Object Number:
1950.129
Gallery Label:
This tapestry cover on this footstool resembles the upholstery on a suite of chairs and sofas ordered by James Beekman, Jr. in 1819 from New York City cabinetmaker John Banks and upholstered by William Denny. The suite was used in the octagon room of Beekman's country estate, Mount Pleasant, located at today's 51st Street and the East River.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1825
eMuseum Object ID:
28403
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Writing desk
Classification:
Date:
1830-1850
Medium:
Wood, mahogany, brass, ivory, silver, iron, tortoiseshell
Dimensions:
Desk: 9 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 12 1/4 in. (24.1 x 61.6 x 31.1 cm)
Description:
Rectangular mahogany writing desk with flat, hinged lid, rectangular brass plaque at center of lid, and brass handles flush with each side of desk; decorated with corner mounts, strips of brass running around outside of desk forming a pattern of squares along corners, attached with rivets; inside, rectangular mahogany shaving case with slant-top lid and handle flush with mount lifts out; inside, trays covered in red morocco leather, with mirror with wooden frame hiding additional trays, containing pair of scissors, two folding razors with ivory handles, three round ivory canisters of various sizes, measuring device, round colorless glass container with metal cover, button hook, wooden razor strap in red leather case, tortoise shell comb, ivory handle, ring with 9 different implements attached including corkscrew, file, and tweezers, wooden strap, and long thin colorless glass cylinder with stopper; mahogany tray under shaving case with two tiers of compartments, two top corner compartments with lids (with marquetry) and metal pulls containing two candle sockets and three turned ivory elements, colorless glass bottle, ivory ruler, and key-ring with four keys, with additional tray painted black; this tray lifts out to reveal tray at bottom of desk, between two built-in sets of compartments containing six ivory canisters.
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. Robert Lenox Dwight
Object Number:
1956.180
Marks:
stamped: on razors, button hooks, scissors, etc.: "CAIMES LONDON"
engraved: on brass plate on lid: "Robert Lenox Esq/from/Thomas Murdoch"
written: in black ink on attached document (also transcribed): "Unlock the flap No 1 [underlined] take out/the Shav
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
28355
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.



















