Armchair

Attributed to Workshop of Duncan Phyfe American, born Scotland

1830–35

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 738

The plush high back with crotch-veneered tablet and sweeping scrolled arms of this sleek, mahogany chair illustrate the Phyfe workshop’s experimentation with variations of French fauteuils. The Phyfes’ inspiration may have emerged from the popular designs by Pierre de la　Mésangère in his serial Collection de Meubles et Objets de Goût (1820–1831). The armchair bears resemblance to number 638 "Fauteuil de Salon" in volume one of Meubles…(1802-1807) and number 320 "Fauteuil d’Appartament" in volume one (1810-1812). According to family tradition this chair, one of a pair (see 1971.128.1), stood in Duncan Phyfe's house on Fulton Street before descending to his great-granddaughter, Emma Phyfe Purdy (b. 1855), then to subsequent owners.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Armchair
Maker: Attributed to Workshop of Duncan Phyfe (American (born Scotland), near Lock Fannich, Ross-Shire, Scotland 1768/1770–1854 New York)
Date: 1830–35
Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Mahogany, cherry, ash
Dimensions: 38 x 21 1/4 x 25 5/16 in. (96.5 x 54 x 64.3 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Alfred Joltin, in memory of Ida Louise Opdycke, 1971
Object Number: 1971.128.2
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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