Object Number 1969.5508.001

Object Name

Slip seat

Category

Textiles (Furnishing)

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

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

United States, North America

Origin Notes

The modern seat frame is not original to its associated chair. The seat frame was probably made between 1900 and 1950.

Secondary Place of Origin

England, United Kingdom, Europe

Secondary Origin Notes

This fabric was made in England in about 1790.

Date

1900-1950

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Label; reverse, pinned to webbing; "59.1122.1/7th fl." (in graphite)
2. Label; reverse, pinned to webbing; "1969.5508.001 / Slip seat / 1959.1122.001 / Chair" (in graphite)

Materials

Cotton; Wood

Techniques

Woven (plain), Block printed, Mordant style

Dimensions (inches)

16 (L) , 21.75 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

41 (L) , 55.2 (W)

Measurement Notes

Measurements overall. W at rear: 16.0 inches. Measurements for printed textile seat cover: Florence Montgomery determined warps per inch at 56. Vertical design repeat: 10.25 inches

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Montgomery, Florence. 1970 Printed Textiles: English and American Cottons and Linens 1700-1850.
• Textile with same pattern, p. 130, fig. 92
[Catalogue] Victoria and Albert Museum, et al. 1960 Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of English Chintz: English Printed Fabrics from their Origins until the Present Day; Victoria and Albert Museum, London, May 18th to July 17th, 1960. 75
• Published, p. 15, #55
[Chapter] Bide, Martin. Secrets of the Printer's Palette, Colors & Dyes in Rhode Island Quilts [Book] Welters, Linda & Ordoñez, Margaret. Down by the Old Mill Stream: Quilts in Rhode Island. 83-121.
• Information on mordant style, p. 11-12.
[Book] Storey, Joyce. 1974 The Thames and Hudson Manual of Textile Printing.
• Information on mordant style, p. 88, 101-104.