Object Number 1955.0080.003

Object Name

Chair (Side chair)

Category

Furniture

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase

Creator (Role)

Stone and Alexander (Furniture Maker)

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

Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, New England, United States, North America

Secondary Place of Origin

Europe

Secondary Origin Notes

This fabric was made in Europe, probably between 1900-1950.

Date

1792-1796

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Label; Inside rear rail; Stone &/ Alexander/ Boston/ 179...

Materials

Mahogany; Satinwood ; Birch; Horsehair

Techniques

Woven (satin)

Dimensions (inches)

38.5 (H) , 21 (W) , 21 (D)

Dimensions (centimeters)

97.79 (H) , 53.34 (W) , 53.34 (D)

Measurement Notes

OW at seat; OD from back of crest to front of feet. W (crest) 17.75 in. (45 cm); W (feet) 20.125 in. (51 cm); D (feet) 18.75 in. (47.5 cm).

Object Description

Web - 01/23/2019

Federal-style, shield-back mahogany side chair made with birch seat rails, satinwood inlay, and reproduction haircloth upholstery. The shield back has an arched crest, two curved sides that meet at a point in the center bottom with five, flat tassel-shaped splats originating from an inlaid, satinwood sunburst, and a rounded bottom with curved supports. The trapezoidal seat is upholstered over the rail and is serpentine at front. The front legs are chamfered on the back inside corner and inlaid with satinwood. The back legs are tapered, chamfered on the front inside corner, and cant backwards. Four stretchers brace the legs, with one medial forward of center, one at each side, and one at back positioned higher than the other three. A printed paper label is located on the inside of the back sea rail: [Stone & / Alexander / BOSTON / 179???]. The chair was originally upholstered in cream-colored, striped silk satin with embroidered small, pastel-colored flowers in vertical stripes, made in Europe around 1800. About 1967, the chair was reupholstered with black horsehair made between 1900-1950 and obtained from Peter Schneider by Joseph Li Volsi of New York. The horsehair was applied with the weft running horizontally across the seat. The fabric is pulled underneath and held with a single row of nails at the front and rear rails and with a double row of nails on each side. The chair fabric is secured by a row of upholstery tacks. Underneath the seat is closely spaced wide webbing.

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. 31