Cushion (Mattress)

  • Category:

    Textiles (Furnishing)

  • Creator (Role):

    Prelle et Cie (Fabric manufacturer)

    Joseph Li Volsi (Maker)

  • Place of Origin:

    New York, New York, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

  • Secondary Place of Origin:

    France, Europe

  • Date:

    1967-1967

  • Materials:

    Silk

  • Techniques:

    Woven (compound)

  • Museum Object Number:

    1984.0649.002


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1984.0649.002

Object Name

Cushion (Mattress)

Category

Textiles (Furnishing)

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Prelle et Cie (Fabric manufacturer)

Joseph Li Volsi (Maker)
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

New York, New York, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

This cushion was upholstered by Joseph Li Volsi of New York City in April, 1967 (See conservation file).

Secondary Place of Origin

France, Europe

Secondary Origin Notes

The upholstery fabric is a reproduction made in France by Prelle et Cie in 1966. It is a copy of the fabric on the retired window hangings 1957.1353.001-.003, formerly used in the Phyfe room.

Date

1967-1967

Materials

Silk

Techniques

Woven (compound)

Dimensions (inches)

78.25 (W) , 27.25 (D)

Dimensions (centimeters)

198.755 (W) , 69.215 (D)

Measurement Notes

Measurements taken from sofa record 1957.0729.

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Burnham, Dorothy K. 1980 Warp and Weft: a Textile Terminology. 216.
Discussion of lampas: p. 82-83