Hall Chair
Gothic Revival hall chair. Stylized trefoil decoration and Gothic strap work. Flat cut-out rather than dimensionally carved. Solid wood plank seat bottom. Simple angular legs.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Kitty Axt and Colonel Richard Axt.
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
1860
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43 1/4 in. high x 18 3/16 in. wide x 15 1/4 in. deep
Walnut
1998.03
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Secretary
Empire secretary with bookcase; probably made in Clarke County, Georgia area; regional features include raised panels on drawer fronts, wooden mushroom knobs,; side scroll columns; feet are recessed scrolls; bookcase has double glazed doors with large single panes of glass; interior is wide pine boards; large raked cornice is typical of Clarke County area 1840-1860.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard F. Bechtold; to Nancy, Lisa, and Brian Lukasiewicz from Ronnie Lukasiewicz; dedicated in honor of Nancy's role as the first director of the Lyndon House Arts Center.
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
1845
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95 in. high x 46 3/8 in. wide x 26 3/4 in. deep
Wood
Mahogany veneer
1997.7
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Bidet
Highly figured rosewood veneers and finely finished gloss period style finish. Molded raised lip on lid. Porcelain inserted bowl has marble veined coloring with wine colored Greek-key border on the upper edge of the bowl. Hole in the bottom of the bowl has a functional brass handle on the side of the case to open and close the flow of water. Four turned legs support the base. No rollers.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Marion Cannon.
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
1860
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15 1/8 in. high x 12 1/2 in. wide x 18 3/4 in. deep
Wood
Rosewood
1998.28
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Piano
Square grand piano. Rococo style with cabriole legs, pedal lyre, and music rack. Off-centered keyboard has fewer keys than today's pianos. Playing action supported by heavy cast iron frame. Smaller than typical 7-8 foot cases of concert square pianos.
Photographed by David Hammond
Decker and Sons, New York
Gift of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
1860
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38 in. high x 80 in. wide x 39 in. deep
Rosewood
Cast iron
Brass
Ebony
Ivory
1997.02
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Dining Table & Chairs (removed from display)
Mahogany dining table and four chairs c. 1940 Duncan Phyfe period style. Table has double pedestal and one extra leaf for the tabletop. The three reeded legs on each pedestal probably once had crossed lion paw feet. Chairs have sabre legs, slip seats and a medallion center veneered paned in the back of each chair. The back rail is rolled and beaded on the lower edge. Side rails on the back are also reeded as are the front sabre legs. Contemporary upholstery on the slip seats.
Gift of Heidi and Al Davison.
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
1940
All items and images © their respective copyright holders. Please contact Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation for permission regarding reproduction and use.
32 3/4 in. high x 17 1/2 in. wide x 16 1/4 in. deep
Mahogany
1998.29
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
10 Piece Belter Suite
Setee, Rosewood, Rococo Revival style, with floral carved cresting above Rosewood frame, with laminated, curving wooden back. John Henry Belter, cabinet-maker, New York, ca. 1950. In the pattern "Rosalie (Without Grapes)." Excellent, restored condition with good, usable, blue brocade upholstery.
Gentleman's chair, to match above exactly, button-tufted upholstery on back.
Pair of Side Chairs, to match above exactly, button-tufted rear upholstery.
Set of six Side Chairs, exact design as above, recently restored and recovered to be used en suite with above.
[NOTE] John Henry Belter stands out among the mid-nineteenth century cabinet-makers, just as Duncan Phyffe does for the early years of the century. His workmanship and his materials were of best quality. The style in which he worked, known as "Rococo Revival," found its origin in the Louis XV revival in France, and represents for American Furniture the highest expression of the French taste of the period. The large scale and richly carved, ornate decoration was especially suited to the "cavernous splendor" of the antebellum mansions, and was especially desired not only in stylish New York, but in the homes of wealthy southerners of the period.
Belter had recognizable styles and techniques and patented many of this construction methods and processes. In particular he was known for the process of lamination, in which many layers of wood were steamed and then glued together in molds or "cawls." Thin layers of wood, generally six to eight, were laid out in layers with the grain at a right angle to the alternating layers, his use of casters on all four legs and his style of carving set his furniture apart from that of imitators. Belters layers for lamination were thinner and therefore more numerous in making a given thickness, his carving of flowers was fuller and more naturalistic, and his laminated chair backs cover the rear seat rails.
Always desirable and more valued than other furniture of the period, Belter furniture became markedly sought after then 1980 exhibit of the large Manney collection of the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington, Massachusetts, This interest led to the research producing the landmark book The Furniture of John Henry Belter and The Rococo Revival. Their research also gave names to the various patterns which had not been previously captioned. The furniture in this collection, "Rosalie," is named for the Natchez, Mississippi mansion for which a collection was purchased in the 1850s. The exhibit and resultant interest also marks the beginning of the great rise in prices and values for Belter furniture.
Photographed by David Hammond
Belter, John Henry
Gift of Cindy and Ron Evans.
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
1850
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Settee: 40 3/4 in. x 75 in. x 33 in.
Gentlemen's Chair: 42 1/2 in. x 23 1/2 in. x 22 in.
Side Chair: 37 1/4 in. x 18 1/2 in. 17 1/2 in.
Rosewood
Upholstery
1998.24.01
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Parlor Chairs (Set of 5)
Five Rococo Walnut ca. 1860 Parlor Chairs in the mid-nineteenth century style typically used en suite with a sofa, and other pieces. These pieces consist of a Lady's medallion back chair and four balloon back side chairs.
The Lady's Chair has a carved crest of of grapes and a large grape leaf sitting on top of the other fruit and/or nuts. Carved ribbing outlines this medallion back and runs down the back across the hip rests. It is picked up across the cabriole legs and the skirt frame. The front legs terminate into brass rollers. The chair has been refinished to a medium dark color with a high gloss finish. This chair is recovered with a wine colored period style damask.
Four Side Chairs match the above listed Lady's Chair. They have identical carved crests consisting of grapes and a large grape leaf sitting on top of other fruit and/or nuts. Carved ribbing outlines the balloon back and back rail and hip rests. This ribbing is also used over the cabriole legs and seat skirt frame. Legs terminate in raised rounded blocks - restored to original form. These chairs have been refinished to a medium dark color with a high gloss finish. These chairs are recovered with a wine colored period style damask.
These five chairs match a ca. 1860 walnut medallion back sofa owned by the Lyndon family and known to have been used in the Ware-Lyndon home. This sofa, also covered in matching wine colored damask fabric, makes a parlor set of six matching pieces.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Cindy and Ron Evans
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
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Lady's Chair: 40 1/4 in. x 20 in. x 18 in.
Side Chair: 35 1/2 in. x 18 in. x 17 in.
Walnut
1998.24.2
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Chairs (Set of Four)
Two sets of matching Sheraton 1820 period chairs. These four chairs are typical of the high style cabinet makers of New York and Philadelphia and have elements of the French Empire style of the same period that was copied in America. Saber legs and hand carved dog feet. From Lyndon family.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Anita Sams Holton. (10-06-1997)
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
ca. 1820
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36 1/2 in. high x 21 1/2 in. wide x 17 in. deep
Mahogany
1997.01
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Andirons (Set of 2)
Highly polished Rococo Revival (style of 1760s-70s French Louis XV) andirons. Reproduced to use with Rococo Revival furniture. The flaming cartouches blended with acanthus leaf swirls seen on mid-19th century mirrors, plaster decorations, and Rococo furniture.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Anita Sams Holton. (12-20-1997)
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
Mid-19th century.
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16 in. high x 8 3/4 in. wide x 17 in. deep
Brass
1997.05.01
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)
Cake Basket
White porcelain oblong compote on footed base, applied Rococo handles on each end. Gilding highlights on edge and raised decorations. Designs of grapes, vines, and leaves are hand painted onto interior of basket with gold leaf lion faces at each corner.
Photographed by David Hammond
Gift of Anita Sams Holton. (12-20-1997)
Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation
Mid-19th century
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11 5/8 in. x 9 1/8 in.
Oval Base: 6 3/4 in. x 6 in.
Porcelain
1997.05.02
Athens (Ga.)
Clarke County (Ga.)