Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854)
was one of America’s best furniture designers during the
nineteenth-century. He was born in Scotland and moved to New York in 1792
to start his furniture making business, which he opened in 1794. Phyfe
quickly became famous for reasonable pricing, quality furniture, and simple
style, though he included a broad range of the period’s classical styles
including Empire,
Sheraton, French Classical, and Regency.
In the early years, his
furniture was made only from imported mahogany, and after 1830, his furniture
was mostly made of rosewood. Phyfe is also attributed to introducing the
factory method of making furniture to the American cabinetmaker industry. It
can be difficult to identify some of Phyfe’s furniture pieces, because he very
rarely labeled his furniture. Duncan Phyfe’s furniture can be seen in the White
House Green Room, Edgewater, the Roper House and Millford Plantation.
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Card
table,
1810–20
Unidentified Maker but attributed to Duncan Phyfe, New York City Mahogany, tulip poplar, brass |
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Antique Mahogany Card Table Attributed to Duncan
Phyfe, New York
www.aileenminor.com
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Side
chair,
ca. 1810
Attributed to the Workshop of Duncan Phyfe (American, 1770–1854) New York CiMahogany, gilded brass with yellow poplar, cherry, ash
www.metmuseum.org
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Pair Recamier Sofas with Winged Paw Feet,
about 1815-20. Mahogany and ash, painted verde antique and gilded, with
die-stamped gilt-brass mounts and bolster buttons, brass line inlay, and
gilt-brass castors. www.artfinding.com
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