Furniture at Johns Hopkins House Part 2

Just like in part 1 of this series of furniture blogs, I am going to share some more about the furniture that the Duckett family had when they lived in the house in the 1940s-1950s.

The Ducketts had some beautiful chairs. The chair next to the fireplace in the middle picture, was probably a reproduction of a mahogany Chippendale style chair. Thomas Chippendale began his work in England where his father and grandfather were also furniture makers. In 1754, Chippendale publish The Gentleman and Cabinetmaker's Director, the first edition of his now famous furniture book that showcased his designs. It might be considered to be like the Montgomery Wards or Sears catalogues of these early American years. Chippendale style furniture became very popular throughout the mid-atlantic colonies/states in the second half of the 18th century. American craftsmen interpreted Chippendale's basic designs and ornaments to suit the 18th-century American lifestyle and philosophy. In the first picture, you see a peak of the same style chairs and the dining room table, all in the Chippendale style. This style is still popular today.

In the dining room picture you can also see a Tilt-Top Stand, a form of small table that could be folded down and "put away" along the wall when not in use. The shape of this table was particularly popular between 1760-1790. While many of this type of table were made by America's major cabinetmaking centers, this particular design/shape was produced in the Boston, Salem, and Essex County, Massachusetts. These tables are supported by three cabriole legs that end in pad feet, which were often carved.

The small table in the parlor picture is a Lady's Work Table, many of which were made in Baltimore in the 19th century. Similar work tables made with a lyre bases under the drawered cabinet were made in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Like this example in the Duckett home, this table has turned colonnettes at the four corners and combines mahogany and bird's-eyes maple for decoration. With their green baize lining, these tables were used by the lady of house to store sewing materials.

More to come....