1951.0006 Sofa
  • 1951.0006 Sofa
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Sofa

  • Category:

    Furniture

  • Creator (Role):

    Unknown (Furniture Maker)

    Joseph Li Volsi (Upholsterer)

  • Place of Origin:

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

  • Secondary Place of Origin:

    Europe

  • Date:

    1770-1780

  • Materials:

    Mahogany; Silk; Cotton

  • Techniques:

    Woven (damask)

  • Museum Object Number:

    1951.0006


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1951.0006

Object Name

Sofa

Category

Furniture

Credit Line/Donor

Gift 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

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

Secondary Place of Origin

Europe

Secondary Origin Notes

Previously attributed to Italy between 1700 and 1735, this fabric was probably made in Europe between 1725-1775.

Date

1770-1780

Materials

Mahogany; Silk; Cotton

Techniques

Woven (damask)

Dimensions (inches)

40.875 (H) , 105 (W) , 37 (D)

Dimensions (centimeters)

103.823 (H) , 266.7 (W) , 93.98 (D)

Measurement Notes

OL at arms, OD from front of seat to crest.

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Downs, Joseph & du Pont, Henry Francis. 1952 American Furniture: Queen Anne and Chippendale Periods, in the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.
Published: fig. 275
[Book] Thornton, Peter. 1965 Baroque and Rococo Silks.
Related fabric: pl.114a, p.194
[Manuscript] Bertrand, Rebecca & Parks, Sarah. Seasonal Change Study.
See Curator of Textiles for Seasonal Change Study binder discussing this object.
[Book] Hummel, Charles F. 1976 A Winterthur Guide to Chippendale Furniture: Middle Atlantic and Southern Colonies.
Published: pl. 3.