Title
A Fourteen-piece Painted Bedroom Suite
Date
late 19th century
Description
A fourteen-piece bedroom suite (American, late 19th century) designed by Ogden Codman, Jr. (American, 1863-1951) and attributed to the manufacturer A. H. Davenport Co., Boston and East Cambridge, MA. Done in the Louis XVI style, the white painted bedroom suite is composed of:
.1a-c = A bedstead with a rectangular headboard and footboard carved along the top edge with fluted molding and flanked by fluted columns caved around the base with acanthus leaves, topped by flower-head paterae, and surmounted by shrub like finials. The headboard has a central rectangular panel, and the footboard is centered by an oval panel flanked by two rectangular concave sided panels. The bedstead is raised on four squat tapered fluted feet.
.2 = A fauteuil with an arched padded back, scrolled padded armrests, and a square seat in neutral upholstery. The back frame is carved with flowerhead paterae at the corners and the curved arms and supports are carved with acanthus leaves. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.3 = A two-tiered side table.
.4-.5 = Two side chairs with an arched padded back and a square seat in neutral upholstery. The back frame is carved with flower-head paterae at the corners, and the whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.6ab-.7ab = Two chest of drawers with shaped breche violette marble tops. Below the marble top is a shaped long drawer carved with a wave frieze and fitted with a flower knob pull. Below this are two larger plain drawers, each with two drop pulls. The front is framed by two fluted columns topped by block flower-head paterae and carved around the bottom with acanthus leaves. The bottom rail is carved at center with curling acanthus leaves and a central floral medallion. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.8 = A chaise lounge upholstered in a chintz fabric patterned with flowers and musical instruments on a white ground. The shaped head and foot board are carved with flower-head paterae at the corners and acanthus leaves along the sides and arms. Both ends have scrolled and padded armrests, with the larger headboard having closed upholstered armrests. The whole is raised on eight tapered fluted legs.
.9ab= A nightstand of square form with a breche violette marble top. The top block front corners are carved with flower heads. Beneath the marble top is a drawer with a flower knob pull, beneath this is a cupboard door also fitted with a flower knob pull. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.10= A slant front writing desk carved with acanthus leaf bandings. The top frieze is fitted with four small drawers, each with a knob pull, these are flanked by block flower-head paterae. The hinged slant front opens to reveal interior drawers and compartments. Below the slant front are drawers fitted with drop handles and foliate escutcheons. The desk is supported by four fluted tapered legs.
.11-.12= Two bergères with arched backs, carved with flower-head paterae at the corners, and curved arms and supports with acanthus leaves. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs. The back, closed padded armrests, and loose cushion seat are upholstered in a chintz fabric patterned with flowers and musical instruments on a white ground.
.13-.14= Two round foot stools raised on four tapered fluted legs topped by flower-head paterae along the seat rail. The stool cushions are covered in upholstery patterned with roses and lilacs against a purple ground.
.1a-c = A bedstead with a rectangular headboard and footboard carved along the top edge with fluted molding and flanked by fluted columns caved around the base with acanthus leaves, topped by flower-head paterae, and surmounted by shrub like finials. The headboard has a central rectangular panel, and the footboard is centered by an oval panel flanked by two rectangular concave sided panels. The bedstead is raised on four squat tapered fluted feet.
.2 = A fauteuil with an arched padded back, scrolled padded armrests, and a square seat in neutral upholstery. The back frame is carved with flowerhead paterae at the corners and the curved arms and supports are carved with acanthus leaves. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.3 = A two-tiered side table.
.4-.5 = Two side chairs with an arched padded back and a square seat in neutral upholstery. The back frame is carved with flower-head paterae at the corners, and the whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.6ab-.7ab = Two chest of drawers with shaped breche violette marble tops. Below the marble top is a shaped long drawer carved with a wave frieze and fitted with a flower knob pull. Below this are two larger plain drawers, each with two drop pulls. The front is framed by two fluted columns topped by block flower-head paterae and carved around the bottom with acanthus leaves. The bottom rail is carved at center with curling acanthus leaves and a central floral medallion. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.8 = A chaise lounge upholstered in a chintz fabric patterned with flowers and musical instruments on a white ground. The shaped head and foot board are carved with flower-head paterae at the corners and acanthus leaves along the sides and arms. Both ends have scrolled and padded armrests, with the larger headboard having closed upholstered armrests. The whole is raised on eight tapered fluted legs.
.9ab= A nightstand of square form with a breche violette marble top. The top block front corners are carved with flower heads. Beneath the marble top is a drawer with a flower knob pull, beneath this is a cupboard door also fitted with a flower knob pull. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs.
.10= A slant front writing desk carved with acanthus leaf bandings. The top frieze is fitted with four small drawers, each with a knob pull, these are flanked by block flower-head paterae. The hinged slant front opens to reveal interior drawers and compartments. Below the slant front are drawers fitted with drop handles and foliate escutcheons. The desk is supported by four fluted tapered legs.
.11-.12= Two bergères with arched backs, carved with flower-head paterae at the corners, and curved arms and supports with acanthus leaves. The whole is raised on four tapered fluted legs. The back, closed padded armrests, and loose cushion seat are upholstered in a chintz fabric patterned with flowers and musical instruments on a white ground.
.13-.14= Two round foot stools raised on four tapered fluted legs topped by flower-head paterae along the seat rail. The stool cushions are covered in upholstery patterned with roses and lilacs against a purple ground.
Cultural Origin
American
Medium
wood
marble
metal
fabric
Extent
.1a-c (bedstead): 57.5" x 83.25" x 57.5"
.2 (fauteuil): 39" x 25" x 22.5"
.3 (two-tiered side table): 30.5” x 27.625” x 17”
.4-.5 (side chairs): 35.25" x 20.25" x 19"
.6ab-.7ab (chest of drawers): 33" x 24.25" x 52"
.8 (chaise lounge): 38.25" x 78.5" x 26"
.9ab (night stand): 29.5" x 19" x 19"
.10 (slant front writing desk): 45" x 48.75" x 23.25"
.11-.12 (bergères): 39" x26.75" x 30"
.13-.14 (stools): 17.75” x 18.25" x 18.25"
Collection
Source
Gift of Gladys T. Peterson and Countess Anthony Szapáry, 1974.
Identifier
PSNC.2905.1a-c-.14
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.