Object Number 1957.0658

Object Name

Sofa

Category

Furniture

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Unknown (Furniture Maker)
This record is to be used when the maker of an object is unknown.

Joseph Li Volsi (Upholsterer)
August 14, 1907-October 22, 1985
Per telephone conversation with Paul Periconi, nephew of Joseph LiVolsi, 08/18/2009: LiVolsi was born on August 14, 1907. His father, Salvatore, and his mother immigrated from Italy. Joseph LiVolsi was a third generation upholsterer. LiVolsi married his wife, Grace on November 18, 1934. In addition to working for Winterthur, Mr. Periconi notes that his uncle did work for the White House refurnishing project and for Mount Vernon, among other museums. LiVolsi worked at home after his retirement until the time of his death. It is very likely that all information, fabric scraps, and tools pertaining to his upholstery business were disposed of after Grace LiVolsi's death in 2007. (SAJ, 08/18/2009) More information about LiVolsi is available on the website: http://www.scovottifamily.com/grace.html

Place of Origin

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, New England, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Previously catalogued as northeastern Massachusetts or Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1800-10. According to Jobe, the veneer-crested sofa has become a "signature of Portsmouth federal furniture." Because it was an expense form to produce (upwards of $35 or $40, comparable in price to an ornate sideboard or secretary-and-bookcase) it was a "statement of luxury and opulence [that] offered its owners comfort as well as status." Six retain histories of ownership in the Portsmouth area, including one branded "G.C. McClean" for George McClean (d. 1820), a Portsmouth ship captain. Another twenty sofas without provenances (including this sofa) have been attributed to Portsmouth. (See Jobe in References)

Secondary Place of Origin

Europe

Secondary Origin Notes

Per previous cataloger, this fabric was made in Europe between 1770 and 1810.

Date

1810-1820

Materials

Mahogany; Birch, figured; Pine, hard; Pine, white; Silk

Techniques

Watered (Moire), Woven (satin)

Dimensions (inches)

36.125 (H) , 83.125 (L) , 28.5 (D)

Dimensions (centimeters)

91.758 (H) , 211.14 (L) , 211.138 (W) , 72.39 (D)

Measurement Notes

OH at crest; OL at feet; OD from back of crest to front of seat. L (crest) 82.75 in.; L (arms) 83 in. Seam to seam, the fabric panels measure 19.5 inches (Sara Jatcko, 04/29/2009)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Montgomery, Charles F., et al. 1966 American Furniture: The Federal Period, in the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.
• Published: no. 271.
[Book] Jobe, Brock. 1993 Portsmouth Furniture: Masterworks from the New Hampshire Seacoast.
• Reattribution: cat. no. 106, pp. 379-81.