Pull up a seat and learn about Baltimore painted (or “fancy”) furniture!
The 1838 inventory of Riversdale, taken after George Calvert’s death listed “2 green settees” in the entry hall. The inventory that was taken in 1864, after C.B. Calvert’s death listed “2 green settees and 6 chairs”. These are also listed in the auction catalog of Riversdale items after Charlotte Calvert’s death in 1878. These pieces of furniture stand out in the Riversdale Historical Society collection because they are “fancy painted” or Baltimore painted pieces.
The Riversdale bench (circa 1820) is painted wood (green-black) with gilt line embellishments. It has scrolled ends, ring-turned and tapered legs, and a caned seat. The bench is quite long - almost 80 inches - and 26 inches high. The bench is one of a pair, and the other is still in the Calvert family. We also have twelve Baltimore painted side chairs in the collection and on display at Riversdale. These chairs are painted wood (black) with gilt stenciling, cane seats, and brass rosettes at the joint of the back and side rails.
What makes these pieces of furniture so special?
By 1803 Baltimore was America's 3rd largest city, behind New York and Philadelphia. During this period wealthy Baltimoreans indulged in traveling to Europe and brought back fine furniture, exquisite decorative arts, and paintings to furnish Georgian & Federal style townhouses and summer homes built just outside of Baltimore city. Some of these fine luxury items imported from Europe influenced the design of local decorative arts and furniture.
During this period, Baltimore was also the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States. Some of these immigrants arrived in Baltimore with highly skilled trades such as cabinetmakers, architects, artists, silversmiths, etc. These artisans brought the latest designs from Europe and greatly influenced local architecture, furniture, and decorative arts. From this mixing pot of talent came the highly sought after Baltimore painted “fancy” furniture.
Painted furniture was less costly than imported furniture or furniture made locally with expensive imported woods like mahogany. Painted furniture could be made from local woods like maple, walnut, pine, and poplar. The painted decorations on Baltimore fancy furniture resembled carvings and gilt inlays found on imported furniture but at a fraction of the cost. This made the fancy furniture available to both the wealthy and middle classes. A wide variety of decorative techniques were available to suit the buyer’s taste and budget. The most elaborate pieces of fancy furniture had ornaments with gilded and stenciled classical figures and foliage enhanced by freehand application of paints, washes, and varnishes meant to mimic more costly imported furniture from Europe.
The “klismos chair” was a popular style in the early 19th century Neoclassical movement inspired by the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the mid 18th century. Clothing, fine arts, and decorative arts were all affected by the ancient style trends. Most of the painted decoration on Baltimore furniture depicted classical elements taken from ancient Greek and Roman designs. Baltimore painted chairs were usually produced in matching sets of six of twelve. The makers of painted furniture often produced entire suites of furniture with matching tables, chairs, sofas, lamp stands, benches, and window cornices but the side chair was by far the most popular.
The gilt and painted decorations (painted freehand, or using stencils) were usually created on top of a base color that was often black, but other popular colors included: ivory, blue, green, yellow, gray, and red. The designs were customizable and some patrons even chose to have images of their homes painted on the furniture. The use of decorative painting on Baltimore furniture, like the use of veneers and inlays and gilded glass panels, was highly sophisticated.
The most well known Baltimore painted furniture makers were brothers, Hugh and John Finlay (Findlay, Finley). The pair was from Ireland and were trained in cabinetmaking. The Finlay brothers moved to Baltimore at the end of the 18th century and set up a prosperous business on North Gay Street in the center of Baltimore’s furniture making district. One of the Finlays’ most distinctive features of their painted furniture is the painted vignettes of local Baltimore architectural views as an element of decoration. Other Baltimore fancy furniture makers and painters included: John Oldham (active 1790-1835), Thomas Renshaw, & John Barnhart.
One of the highest achievements of Baltimore fancy furniture came in 1809. President and First Lady Dolley Madison remodeled the interior of the White House with the help of architect and interior designer, Benjamin H. Latrobe. Latrobe used the Finlay’s Baltimore shop to furnish the oval room with painted fancy furniture that he had designed himself. Latrobe’s drawings of the furniture is the only thing that exists as the furniture and the White House were burned by the British on August 24, 1814. Latrobe’s designs can be found at the Maryland Center for History and Culture, here: https://www.mdhistory.org/resources/design-for-a-chair-for-the-white-house/
Few examples of Baltimore fancy furniture exist outside of museums today. Many pieces of this furniture did not survive intact because surfaces were repainted or stripped, legs were cut down, seats were upholstered, etc. We are so lucky to have one bench and twelve chairs at Riversdale that are Baltimore fancy painted. The bench is extra special because it is original to Riversdale and has been passed down through the Calvert family - it is home again! Come take a look at the chairs and bench while on a tour - but please don't sit! Their caning is extremely fragile.
Post by: Maria G. Cathell, Riversdale Historical Society, Social Media Manager
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