See more
How can you tell if furniture is Duncan Phyfe?
Phyfe furniture tends to have straight parallelled qualities, as opposed to the curvature seen in Queen Anne furniture. Drop-leaf tables on hinges are popular while you may find arches in many of his dining tables. Three legged tables and brass feet are also very common.
Are Duncan Phyfe table worth anything?
Values for Duncan Phyfe furniture An original wooden table by Duncan Phyfe would be worth in the $50,000 to $150,000 range on the antiques market, today. For instance, recently, an original carved mahogany dining table by Duncan Phyfe from circa 1815 measuring 30 inches in height sold for $132,000.
How do you verify a Duncan Phyfe table?
The most obvious way is with reliable documentation or provenance. Finding a 175-to-215-year-old bill of lading for the piece would be ideal. Or, look for a document or invoice that confirms that the furniture's original owners (or family members) commissioned Phyfe to craft the piece.
What kind of wood is a Duncan Phyfe table?
Product InformationSKU527-TDimensions36" width x 24" depth x 30" height when closed. Opens to 36" x 48".Woods and FinishesWalnut, Natural Oak, Antique Oak, Brown Mahogany, Red Mahogany, Light Cherry, Fruitwood Cherry, Antique Cherry
How do I know if my furniture is valuable?
At the end of the day, the best way to determine the value of older furniture is to take it to a vintage furniture appraiser. An expert will know exactly what to look for to give you the most accurate estimate of your vintage furniture's value.
How do you tell if a table is an antique or reproduction?
A few signs that furniture is newer include consistent color, lack of patina, machine-cut moldings/carvings, and modern screws or nails. Things like mortise-and-tenon joints, wood pegs, hand-cut dovetails, and rose head nails are typically found in antique furniture.
What year were Duncan Phyfe tables made?
The exception is furniture designed by American furniture craftsman Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854). More than 300 cabinetmakers created Phyfe-style pieces between 1810 and 1820 and many still are.
How do I find out what year my furniture was made?
Make sure to search for labels, stamps, or manufacturing tags that can tell when and where a piece was made. Furniture companies and makers often listed their names, locations, and year of production This information can be found on the inside of drawers, the backs of bureaus, and on the lower edges of pieces.
How do I know if my table is antique?
The age factor is subjective: general antique stores label objects 50 years or older as antiques. Fine antique dealers consider objects 150 years and older to be antique. In the East, an antique is Queen Anne or earlier; in the West, it's any piece of furniture that came across the mountains in a wagon.
What is the most valuable antique furniture?
5 Most Expensive Antique Furniture Ever SoldBadminton Cabinet – $36.7 million.The Dragon's Chair – $26.6 million.Antique Secretary Desk – $11.4 million.The Harrington Commode – $5 million.George II Parcel Gilt Padauk Cabinet – $3.9 million.
What is the oldest piece of wood furniture?
This beautiful tabletop is made from a single piece of Ancient Swamp Kauri wood that's around 50,000 years old. Prehistoric Kauri trees, known as Ancient Swamp Kauri, are native to New Zealand's North Island.
How can you tell if furniture is Victorian?
Victorian furniture was usually made from Walnut for smaller pieces such as small tables and Mahogany for large pieces such as wardrobes, dining tables and bookcases. Sometimes these pieces featured Flame Mahogany veneers and used walnut and rosewood for decoration of for example, table tops.
How do I know if my antique table is valuable?
An Appraisal Is The Only Way To Be Sure Before we start looking at the telltale signs of antique furniture, it is important to remember that the only way to be absolutely sure is to get your furniture appraised by a professional.
How do I find out how much my antique table is worth?
Contact a major auction house, such as Sotheby's or Christie's, for value lookups on extremely rare or valuable antique furniture. Check websites such as Antique Trader where information of events offering free antique appraisal information is posted.
When did they stop making Duncan Phyfe furniture?
In 1847 the business was sold and Duncan retired. Although Phyfe did not originate a new furniture style, he interpreted fashionable European styles in a manner so distinguished by grace and excellent proportions that he became a major spokesman for Neoclassicism in the United States.
How can I tell how old my table is?
Unless your table predates the 18th century, when it was common to assemble tables with wooden pegs, the fabricators probably assembled it with screws. If you can remove one of these screws, an examination of its length and width, as well as the condition of the threads, should give you a good idea of its age.
What was the challenge of Duncan Phyfe?
Phyfe & Son (1840–1847). It was during the latter and final stages of the business’s history that perhaps the greatest challenge Phyfe ever faced emerged; how to cope with the new wave of historical revival styles. In 1840, one Southern planter who came to New York from Columbia, South Carolina, observed to his wife in a letter that the Phyfes were "as much behind the times in style as (they were) in price." This is because the Phyfes always adhered to the classicist language until the end, they never fully engaged with the emerging historical revival styles (e.g. Baroque, Gothic, Rococo, etc.) that began in the 1830s.
What style of furniture did Phyfe make?
Phyfe’s work encompassed a broad range of the period’s Neoclassical styles, starting from his earliest furnitures— which bear the influence of his 18th-century British predecessors Thomas Sheraton and Thomas Hope — continuing with Regency, Federal, Empire and ending with his late simplified designs in the Grecian plain style.
How did Phyfe become famous?
A poor immigrant when he arrived in America from his native Scotland, Phyfe acquired wealth and fame through hard work, exceptional talent and the support of patrons. He would come to count among his clients some of the nation's wealthiest and most storied families.
When did Duncan Phyfe close his business?
Duncan Phyfe and his son James finally closed down the family business in 1847 after fifty-five years in the trade. They held an auction of the remaining contents of their furniture warehouse. The auctioneer was Halliday & Jenkins.
What was the name of the cabinetmaker in 1794?
By the time of his marriage in 1793, he appears in the New York directories as a "joiner," but by 1794 he called himself "cabinetmaker" and had changed the spelling of his name to Phyfe. He opened his own business in 1794 and was listed as a cabinetmaker in the New York Directory and Register. From his first shop on 2 Broad Street, he later moved to Partition Street (later renamed Fulton Street in 1817 in honor of Robert Fulton ), where he stayed for the rest of his life.
Where is Duncan Phyfe's furniture?
Duncan Phyfe's furniture can be admired in the White House Green Room, Edgewater, Roper House and especially at Millford Plantation, owned by the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. His furniture appears in many museums and private collections as well.
What furniture was on loan to the Cincinnati Art Museum?
Mahogany, cherry, pine, gilt brass, and modern upholstery. On loan to the Cincinnati Art Museum. On 15 October 1922, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened to the public "Furniture from the Workshop of Duncan Phyfe", the first exhibition ever held in an art museum on the work of a single cabinetmaker.
What wood did Duncan Phyfe use?
Mahogany Duncan Phyfe furniture pieces are common. Phyfe also used rosewood, black walnut, cherry, and maple woods.
What style of furniture did Phyfe make?
Around 1800, Phyfe’s furniture craftsmen were producing delicately-finished furniture pieces in the Sheraton, French Directoire, and Regency styles. By 1825, buyers’ preferences shifted to the heavier Empire style, so Phyfe changed with the times, and began producing pieces in that genre. Fortunately, his well-heeled customers continued ...
How much is a Duncan Phyfe table worth?
In the past, antique experts estimated that an original Duncan Phyfe table was worth $50,000 to $150,000. However, relatively recent 21st-century selling prices are far below that price range. The following are average auction selling prices for Duncan Phyfe furniture pieces. Averages were calculated from the mean sale price of four pieces of similar furniture.
What is Duncan Phyfe furniture?
The evolution of Duncan Phyfe furniture is an American cabinetmaker’s success story. From humble beginnings, Phyfe became known for his contributions to fine American furniture.
What is Phyfe known for?
Phyfe was known for his furniture’s excellent proportions and graceful lines, both well-known Neoclassical style hallmarks.
How to confirm Duncan Phyfe?
If your piece doesn’t have a signature, there are other ways to confirm you have a Duncan Phyfe original. The most obvious way is with reliable documentation or provenance. Finding a 175-to-215-year-old bill of lading for the piece would be ideal. Or, look for a document or invoice that confirms that the furniture’s original owners (or family members) commissioned Phyfe to craft the piece.
When did Duncan Phyfe furniture start selling?
A reproduced Duncan Phyfe dining-room set from the early to mid-1900s recently sold for thousands of dollars.
How much was Phyfe's fortune?
Phyfe was particularly popular in the South. At his death his fortune was estimated to have been almost $500,000. Interest in Phyfe’s furniture was revived in 1922 when the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, organized a comprehensive exhibition of his work.
What was Robert Adam's furniture made of?
His furniture, with its low relief carvings in the manner of the great English Neoclassicist Robert Adam, was decorated with typical period ornaments—harps, lyres, acanthus leaves, bow knots, and lion masks—and generally was made of high-quality mahogany; often he executed suites for fashionable New Yorkers.
What is furniture in painting?
Furniture, household equipment, usually made of wood, metal, plastics, marble, glass, fabrics, or related materials and having a variety of different purposes.
Where did Phyfe move to?
In 1792 he moved to New York City (changing the spelling of his name to Phyfe about 1793). Two years later he was listed as a cabinetmaker in the New York Directory and Register. From his first shop on Broad Street, he later moved to Fulton Street. In later years he employed more than 100 carvers and cabinetmakers.
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
Who was the first cabinet maker?
One of the first American cabinetmakers to successfully use the factory method of manufacturing furniture, in 1837 he took two of his sons, Michael and James, into partnership as Duncan Phyfe and Sons. After the death of Michael (1840), the firm name was changed to Duncan Phyfe and Son. In 1847 the business was sold and Duncan retired.
Did Phyfe create a new furniture style?
Although Phyfe did not originate a new furniture style, he interpreted fashionable European styles in a manner so distinguished by grace and excellent proportions that he became a major spokesman for Neoclassicism in the United States.
What kind of wood does Duncan Phyfe use?
Some Duncan Phyfe tables also have drop leaves, and some dining tables can be extended to seat more people. Much authentic Duncan Phyfe furniture also uses the best grade mahogany. The cabinetmaker did not use lighter woods as veneers but would use grained mahogany veneers with plainer mahogany. ADVERTISEMENT.
What are the legs on a Duncan Phyfe table?
The legs of many Duncan Phyfe style tables have saber legs that flare out from a pedestal or from stretchers. They often have paw feet that can be made of brass and embellished with carved acanthus leaves. The legs on other Duncan Phyfe tables are slender, tapered and reeded. Some end in brass casters.
What can you do with acanthus leaves?
Acanthus leaves can also be carved on the columns or pedestals that support the table tops. The supporting columns can also have spiral reeding or come in the shape of urns.
How much is a Duncan Phyfe table worth?
Values for an original Duncan Phyfe table range from $50,000 to $150,000.
What is the Duncan Phyfe style?
Similarly, this revival of the Duncan Phyfe style is seen in furniture designs in the early decades of the 1900s. It is common that such pieces have come to be known as simply “Duncan Phyfe”, but they are not authentic Duncan Phyfe pieces.
What do I mean by retail market?
What do I mean by the retail market? That’s the price you would pay if you went to a retailer and bought a dining room set like your set, with its current condition factored in.
Who was the furniture maker in the late 18th century?
Many furniture makers worked in the manner of the late 18th-century craftsman, Duncan Phyfe. Think of it this way — It’s like contemporary singer Michael Buble singing in the style of Frank Sinatra. Buble sings like Sinatra, but he’s not Sinatra! Buble singing Sinatra songs in the 2000s was a revival of Sinatra’s style which was popular in ...
What is a Duncan Phyfe made of?
Now, focus on the claw feet. Most of the Duncan Phyfe is made of high-quality mahogany embellished that is detailed with hand carving craftworks. In addition to that, it should have an aged look.
How did Phyfe use his factory approach?
Phyfe used a factory approach successfully to furnish so that his works could not be specifically sculpted or made exclusively by him. In its highest position, his workshop employed over a hundred skilled furniture makers.
What is the average size of Duncan Phyfe?
Oh! The dimension. This time you have to review the dimension. Duncan Phyfe comes in a variety of sizes and dimensions, but among them, the 34, 84.75, and 23.75 are considered to be good as average size.
Who was Duncan Phyfe?
Duncan Phyfe was an immigrant from Scotland who settled with his father in the United States in 1784. Since moving into New York City, he first worked in Albany in a cabinetry school. At the beginning of the 1800s, Phyfe designed a mechanical factory for rich clients on the eastern seafront.
Overview
Duncan Phyfe (1768 – 16 August 1854) was one of nineteenth-century America's leading cabinetmakers.
Although he did not create a new furniture style, he interpreted fashionable European trends in a manner so distinguished and particular that he became a major spokesman for Neoclassicism in the United States, influencing a whole g…
An American icon
Born Duncan Fife near Loch Fannich, Scotland, he immigrated with his family to Albany, New York, in 1784 and served as a cabinetmaker’s apprentice.
In 1791 he moved to New York City and one year later is documented the earliest mention of him in the city, when he was elected to the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, sponsored by Isaac Nichols and Seabury Champli…
Major exhibitions and collections
On 15 October 1922, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened to the public "Furniture from the Workshop of Duncan Phyfe", the first exhibition ever held in an art museum on the work of a single cabinetmaker. Ninety years later and only for the second time in history, a major retrospective on this iconic American craftsman and his furniture was again on view from 20 December 2011 – 6 M…
In popular culture
Karl Shapiro refers to the fly's leg as "the fine leg of a Duncan-Phyfe," in his poem "The Fly".
Likewise, in one of the passages of the novel Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he wrote: "She wept all over a set that cost a fortune, in a Duncan Phyfe dining-room...".
See also
• Charles-Honoré Lannuier, another reputable cabinetmaker
External links
• Duncan Phyfe: Master Cabinetmaker in New York. MET
• Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier. MET
• Duncan Phyfe: A New York Story. Interview to Peter Kenny and Michael Brown from the MET. The Magazine Antiques