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Grecian Sofa, ca. 1815-1820
American (probably New York)
Painted mahogany with ormolu mounts and modern upholstered cushions
Moses Myers House, Chrysler Museum of Art

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Normally displayed in the drawing room of the historic Moses Myers House along with a matching piece, this Grecian sofa is an excellent example of early 19th-century American neoclassical furniture. In 1792, Moses Myers had a three-story brick house constructed to accommodate the growth of his family and his social status within the community. This stately house and its collection, which remained in the Myers family for five generations, are exceptional treasures of a prosperous Jewish family and Norfolk's past.

Why is this piece of furniture called a Grecian Sofa?

Take a moment and look at this sofa. With your eye, follow the outwardly curved foot towards the leg to the decorative front longitudinal rail and along the headboard with an attached scrolled arm rail. Introduced by the French and the English, neoclassical aesthetics influenced the shape of American furniture and architecture during the 19th century. Neoclassical styles sought to revive the form and ornament from ancient Greek and Roman art. Most Grecian sofas have asymmetrical or symmetrical scrolled headrests, arms, and backs; reed or crested arm rails; clawed or highly stylized feet; symbols and emblems were gilded, carved or embossed; and inlay or painting adorns the surface.

What is the difference between a couch and a sofa? What are the names of other articles of furniture used for sitting?

A couch is very similar to a sofa. Derived from Middle French, couche, a couch is an article of furniture for sitting or reclining. Sofa, taken from the Arabic suffah, is a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back. A settee is a long seat with a back or a medium-sized sofa. Scandinavian in origin, a squab is another name for a couch or a stuffed cushion. A chaise lounge, French in origin, is a long reclining chair.

In a 19th-century house, a Grecian sofa would be found in which room?

The drawing room or front parlor was the most formal space in a Federal Period house. This is the room where the Moses Myers family received formal guests, and the room where ladies "withdrew" after dinner to exchange news and gossip; meanwhile, the men remained at the dining table to discuss business, politics, and indulge in the occasional brandy and cigars. Placed prominently in the room, the pair of sofas would have faced each other to encourage dialogue. When not in use or "at rest," the sofas would have been placed near a wall. As the showplace of the home, the drawing room would be decorated with the finest furniture and interior embellishments the family could afford. Occupying such a place in the Myers home, this Grecian sofa speaks volumes about their economic and social prominence. Sofas and couches were considered luxury items and were found chiefly in the homes of the well-to-do prior to 1820.

Cultural norms during the Federal Period required strict adherence to the rules governing propriety or acceptable standards, although there was a greater sense of informality. While entertaining, ladies could recline and sew. Modern terms describe couches, i.e. recamiers and chaise lounges, as articles of furniture for lounging. This would have been a certain breech of good manners in the era prior to that of Moses Myers. Any guest who committed this breech would have offended the host's sensibilities and would most likely be excused from the home, forfeiting future invitation to return.

Who was Moses Myers?

Moses Myers was an early Norfolk entrepreneur and prominent citizen, whose main source of income was from the exportation of goods. In 1787, Moses wed Eliza (born Elisabeth) Judah in New York. Misfortune in New York and Richmond propelled Moses to relocate and eventually settle in Norfolk. Soon after, his storefront of domestic staples expanded to include the importation-exportation of goods and the acquisition of two schooners. Soon after, Moses was appointed and served in the positions of Superintendent to the Norfolk Branch of the Bank of Richmond, President of the Common Council, and Major of the 54th Regiment to the Virginia Militia. His wealth and prominence within the community provided his family with the status of upper class gentry, including residing in one of the first brick houses built in Norfolk after the Revolutionary War.

What was the Federal Period?

Described as the period immediately following the American Revolution (1774-1783), the Federal Period was a pivotal time in American history. The United States fought a war resisting European rule that influenced the political foundation, freedoms, and overall culture of our nation. Federalists' focused on the needs of merchants and landowners and believed in a strong central government.

What craftsman created this sofa?

If you could design a sofa for your home, what would it look like? Would it be similar or different from this sofa?

Unfortunately, there is no recorded information regarding the maker of this set of sofas, although they are likely to have been manufactured in New York. European immigrants who were skilled craftsmen and cabinetmakers began settling in locales such as Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Norfolk during the 18th century. American craftsmen quickly adapted the designs from Europe in response to the demands of the growing and prosperous middle class in America. Eventually, independent master craftsmen were unable to handle the growth of the business and the requests for individually commissioned pieces. During the early 19th century, large shops began mass-producing furniture using common patterns and machinery. Furniture design shifted from the request of specific patrons to stock models ordered from furniture warehouses and showrooms.

The appearance of couches changed over time due to the regional stylistic qualities, mass production, accessibility, and influence of shifting tastes and styles. Master craftsmen resided in "metropolitan" areas, which included New York, Boston, and Baltimore. Each locale presented a slightly different variation or feature to the furniture produced at that site, creating regional stylistic qualities. Due to mass production and the reduction in the cost of labor and material, couches became accessible to the greater population.

What other important information should I know about this sofa?

This New York-made Grecian sofa is one of a pair on view at the Chrysler Museum of Art and at the Moses Myers House. These Grecian sofas are made of solid mahogany painted to simulate rosewood grain striping and designed with gilt and yellow paint. Seen on the scrolled arm is a gilt bronze, probably made in England, face of Apollo set in a sunburst motif. Apollo is the Greek god of light, purity, music, and poetry. Laurel wreaths embellish the head and foot boards; scroll and leaf motifs, and floral medallions appear on the leg with a stylized four part leaf and star on the end of the front longitudinal rail. The outcurved legs have ball feet and the caned seat is covered with a squab cushion upholstered in a red silk reproduction pattern popularized in Napoleon's French court. The pattern on the upholstered red silk squab depicts a laurel wreath encircling a bee. The bee is Napoleon Bonaporte's symbolic imperial emblem. The laurel wreath refers to the prestige of a Grecian Olympian or the Roman sign for victor. These decorative motifs are classical in origin. Similar pieces can be found in the collections of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, and the Boston Museum of Fine Art.

-- Marcia Riley and Channon M. Humphrey

RESOURCES

Brown, John. American Furniture. New York: Exeter Books, 1985.

Cooper, Wendy A. Classical Taste in America, 1800-1840. Baltimore: Abbeville Press, 1993.

Fairbanks, Jonathan, and Elizabeth Bidwell Bates. American Furniture, 1620 to the Present. New York: Richard Marek Publishers, 1981.

Fitzgerald, Oscar P. Three Centuries of American Furniture. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc.,1982.

Hurst, Ronald, and Jonathan Prown. Southern Furniture: 1680-1830, The Colonial Williamsburg Collection. Williamsburg: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1997.

Montgomery, Charles F. American Furniture, The Federal Period in the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum. New York: Viking Press. 1966.