Couch
Datec. 1820
MediumMaple with curly maple and bird’s eye maple veneers, cane
Dimensions33 × 66 × 20 inches (83.8 × 167.6 × 50.8 cm)
Credit LineBequest of Mary Telfair.
Object number1875.17.1
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextThis pair of Récamier, or Grecian sofas has partial backs terminating in a scroll crest rail, and featuring ring-turn panel inserts on the front seat rail. There is caning throughout, and curvilinear legs ending in ball castors.
An unknown Philadelphia cabinetmaker made the two sofas and fifteen curly maple side chairs left to the museum by founder Mary Telfair. These items appear on her brother Alexander’s 1832 inventory, listed as “18 large maple chairs” valued at $70 and “2 sofas” valued at $35. A center table, valued at $50, and twelve additional “small” maple chairs valued at $40 likely completed the set. The location of the three missing “large” chairs and the dozen “small” chairs is unknown. Even without the complete ensemble, which probably filled the Telfair’s Drawing Room, the existing chairs, sofas and table provide a commanding visual reference to the Telfair family's home soon after they moved into the new Regency-inspired abode. The exotic curly maple wood, a material frequently used among Philadelphia cabinetmakers, as well as the caned Grecian forms of the chairs and sofas, made this set of furniture quite fashionable.
