Unknown. <em>Sofa</em>, ca. 1830. Mahogany, veneer, marble, gilt bronze, modern upholstery, 36 x 80 x 31 in. (91.4 x 203.2 x 78.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Maria L. Emmons Fund, 41.1181. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1181_SL1.jpg)

Unknown. Sofa, ca. 1830. Mahogany, veneer, marble, gilt bronze, modern upholstery, 36 x 80 x 31 in. (91.4 x 203.2 x 78.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Maria L. Emmons Fund, 41.1181. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1181_SL1.jpg)

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Did people actually sit on these sofas? Napping? Conversation?

I suppose it could be used for any of those! Please don't sit on it now, but in the past I'm sure the owner would have loved to sit, and read or maybe enjoy the fire. Interestingly the wood on the sofa is mahogany veneer on top of pine. Pine was a less expensive wood to work with and by simply covering it with more expensive, dark mahogany, the manufacturer could raise the price of the piece while not using up too much mahogany.

However, the upholstery is modern. The sofa was restored in 1998.

Can you tell me about this?

You're looking at a box sofa with original under-upholstery, which means the silhouette is original. The upholstery is modern as the original fabric was beyond repair. You may notice the casters at the bottom, at the time it was crucial to be able to move and change furniture arrangements quickly to entertain guests.

The wood on the sofa is mahogany veneer on top of pine. Pine was a less expensive wood to work with and by simply covering it with more expensive, dark mahogany, the manufacturer could raise the price of the piece while not constructing the piece entirely out of mahogany.

Were wheels really part of period furniture or later additions?

They were original to the period! At this time, furniture was designed so that it could be quickly moved around to entertain guests. This is in the Empire style, which was a late phase of neolassicism. American designers were looking to France (during the Napoleonic Empire) for inspiration.

Sounds like furniture my mother needs so I don't have to push it around for her!

Sofa

Decorative Arts and Design

Box sofas were popular at the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century. This version with marble columns is a luxurious example. Although the textile cover is modern, the underupholstery on the sides and back is original and therefore indicates the severe, rectilinear silhouettes of Neoclassical upholstery schemes. The elaborate, modern bolsters and pillows were suggested by imported European pattern books of the period.

MAKER Unknown

MEDIUM Mahogany, veneer, marble, gilt bronze, modern upholstery

Possible Place Made: New York, New York, United States

DATES ca. 1830

DIMENSIONS 36 x 80 x 31 in. (91.4 x 203.2 x 78.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 41.1181

CREDIT LINE Maria L. Emmons Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Sofa, Empire style, mahogany veneer on pine, marble columns. Rectangular frame with back, seat and ends upholstered, curved mahogany skirt, marble column on each end with ormolu (gilt bronze) bands above and below resting on a carved and turned foot having acanthus leaf and reed decoration, upholstered in coral damask having a diamond pattern. Condition: Good, modern upholstery

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Unknown. Sofa, ca. 1830. Mahogany, veneer, marble, gilt bronze, modern upholstery, 36 x 80 x 31 in. (91.4 x 203.2 x 78.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Maria L. Emmons Fund, 41.1181. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1181_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 41.1181_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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