American. <em>Table</em>, ca. 1840–1855. Cast iron, wood, and painted decoration, 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 in. (72.1 x 72.1 x 72.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 78.131. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.131_overall_PS20.jpg)

American. Table, ca. 1840–1855. Cast iron, wood, and painted decoration, 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 in. (72.1 x 72.1 x 72.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 78.131. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.131_overall_PS20.jpg)

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What's depicted here?

This metal and wood table made in Troy, NY by Noyes & Hutton in the mid-19th century includes iconic scenes and buildings from an illustrated volume called "American Scenery" from 1840.

Giving a picturesque tour of major cities and rural vistas of the United States in order to celebrate both local and national pride this table shows Albany, Mount Vernon, Boston and other American cities.

May I ask how old this table is?

This table is decorated with imagery from an illustrated volume entitled "American Scenery" that was published in 1840. The table was made shortly thereafter, so it's over one hundred and fifty years old!

Can you tell me more about this table?

Of course! This table takes viewers on a tour of major cities and picturesque rural vistas in the United States. Symbolically at center is the Capital Building in Washington. In the early 19th century, landscape views on furniture and objects were a popular way of seeing distant landscapes without leaving one's home. Who has time to travel anyways?

The views are derived from engravings based on drawings by William H. Bartlett which illustrate "American Scenery," in a 1840 publication.

So it was furniture for a private home?

Yes! Do you see the cast iron base? The use of metal furniture for the domestic home was a relatively new and modern idea; previously, the material was reserved for industrial and public spaces. Unfortunately, I don't have the name of the table’s original owner but there is a good chance that they would have lived here in New York.

Tell me more.

This table takes the viewer on a tour of major cities and picturesque rural vistas around the United States. The Capitol Building represents Washington, DC at the center. In the early nineteenth century, landscape views were a popular way of seeing distant landscapes without leaving one's home. The American landscape was an expression of patriotism.

Table

Decorative Arts and Design

Artists inventively created topographical images in a variety of media to celebrate both local and national pride. Here, an assemblage of scenic icons decorates a painted wood tabletop, offering a picturesque tour of major cities and rural vistas in orbit around an image of the national Capitol. The scenes were based on prints published in 1840 in the illustrated volume American Scenery.

CULTURE American

MAKERS (of tabletop) Unknown; (of base) attributed to Noyes & Hutton, 1847–1852

MEDIUM Cast iron, wood, and painted decoration

Possible Place Made: Troy, New York, United States

DATES ca. 1840–1855

DIMENSIONS 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 in. (72.1 x 72.1 x 72.1 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS no marks

SIGNATURE no signature

INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 78.131

CREDIT LINE H. Randolph Lever Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Table, cast iron with painted polychrome decoration, circular top, vase-shaped acanthus pedestal, four ogee acanthus supports rise from pedestal to top, three scrolled acanthus legs with casters. Top painted with views of America in oval reliefs framed in gold and forming a circle. Views are: Albany; Harper's Ferry, VA; Tomb of Kosciusko; Mount Tom and the Connecticut River; Mount Vernon; and Faneuil Hall, Boston. Alternating with views are smaller oval reliefs framed in gilt depicting steam ships, classical temple, Indian hunting, Indian in canoe, and female allegorical figures of America. In center is a circular relief framed in gilt with view of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Gilt filigree is surrounding views with black background. Gilt filigree along edge of top. The views are derived from engravings based on drawings by William H. Bartlett which illustrate "American Scenery," by N. P. Willis, Esq., published in 1840. Condition: Good and sturdy. Small chip of gilt missing from frame of capitol view. Minor restoration of sky in capitol view. Title of Mount Tom and the Connecticut River view retouched. Some restoration to shy in that view. Scratch beneath Mount Vernon view, chips in gilt along edge of top. Minor chips throughout top have been filled in. Some minor re-gilding. Paint crezzled throughout top. Pedestal, legs, and supports have been painted black, but gilding shows through in spots. See conservation report on file.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION American. Table, ca. 1840–1855. Cast iron, wood, and painted decoration, 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 x 28 3/8 in. (72.1 x 72.1 x 72.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 78.131. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.131_overall_PS20.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 78.131_overall_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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