Victorian Times News from the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Victorian Society in America
Volume II No. 2
NEO-GREC PARLOR SUITES: Not Always a “Jelliff” by Roberta A. Mayer
For collectors of nineteenth-century American furniture, a parlor suite in the neo-Grec style is a prized find. These pieces, which were popular from the mid1860s through the 1870s, are easily recognized by the distinctive caryatids (or female busts) that adorn the arms of gentleman's chairs and sofas. In fact, it is this very distinction that leads many to attribute these pieces to John Jelliff (1813-1893), a well-respected cabinetmaker who worked in Newark, New Jersey. Likewise, there are also mythologies concerning the identity of the carved woman. Some say that she portrays Jenny Lind (18201887), while others maintain that she depicts Clara Louise Kellogg (1842-1916). As interesting as these stories are, there is little documentary evidence to support these claims. John Jelliff worked as a cabinetmaker from 1835 until 1860, when an illness forced him into semiretirement. Although he was no longer involved in the daily operations after 1860, he did continue to provide council and business advice for another seven to ten years. After 1860, the firm, John Jelliff & Company, operated for another three decades under the management of Henry H. Miller. Not until 1890 did Miller change the company name to Henry H. Miller, Successor to John Jelliff & Co. The business finally closed altogether in 1901. Jelliff's workshop crafted furnishings in many different styles, including Rococo, Gothic, Elizabethan, and Renaissance revival. Well-documented examples of rosewood parlor furniture in the neo-Grec style survive at the Newark Museum and the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. These are dated 1865-1870 and were manufactured by John Jelliff & Company. Thus, they were produced after Jelliff was active as a craftsman. There is also evidence that the Newark firm sold neoGrec furnishings to other retail distributors who, in turn, sold the pieces under their own label. For instance, curators at the Newark Museum have shown that furniture manufactured by John Jelliff & Company was
March/April 1998 also marketed and labeled by the W. W. Strong Furniture Company in Chicago. Although there are some well-known examples of neo-Grec furniture clearly associated with Jelliff, there are other similar parlor suites that were produced by rival firms, a fact that is revealed by nineteenth-century trade catalogs. One such competitor was J. W. Hamburger, who owned a factory in Brooklyn and a furniture warehouse in New York City. He advertised himself as a wholesale manufacturer. In one of his surviving trade catalogs, (ca. 1876), Hamburger offered the "Prince of Wales Suit. No. 33" and the "King William Suit. No. 38," both of which clearly boast caryatid arms. Likewise, an 1878 album of photographs from the Phoenix Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan includes a suite of parlor furniture in the neo-Grec mode. Given that there are so many differences in the quality of the execution of the caryatids, it seems likely that there were many other manufacturers who offered parlor suites in the neo-Grec style, although few have yet been positively identified by furniture historians. One can easily discern a wide variation in both the carving and the dimensions of the caryatids — some are highly simplified and crude in their execution, while others are Continued on page 2
The Phoenix Furniture Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan manufactured parlor suites in the neo-Grec style. This photograph of a sofa appears in an 1878 album that the company provided for its sales representative. Matching chairs were also available. (Grand Rapids Public Library)
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NEO-GREC PARLOR SUITES (continued) strongly sculptural. These suites can be found in both rosewood, which was most desirable to nineteenthcentury tastes, and walnut, which was much more common. In some instances, incised decoration was gilded, while in other cases, it was not. In some pieces, usually those crafted in walnut, burled veneer was used as a decorative embellishment. When close comparisons are made, differences become striking. As for the identity of the mystery woman, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that she is anything other than an idealized type of female physiognomy -not unlike the visage of Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty. Neither J. W. Hamburger nor the Phoenix Furniture Company indicated that the carved women were meant to serve as portrait busts. Furthermore, photographs of Jenny Lind and Clara Louise Kellogg show that these many carved faces are poor likenesses. (see Illustrations) Both Jenny Lind and Clara Louise Kellogg were enormously popular singers during the nineteenth century. Lind, also known as the "Swedish Nightingale", made her debut in Stockholm in 1838. After establishing herself in Europe, she toured the United States from 1850 to 1852 under the management of P.T. Barnum. Thus, her only visit to America was nearly two decades before neo-Grec furnishings gained popularity. Kellogg, on the other hand, was an American who first performed in New York in 1861. For the next twenty-six years, she attracted large audiences in both England and the United States. Unlike Lind, Kellogg was available to American audiences during the 1870s and, interestingly, her popularity is reflected in some furniture designs of the period. It is still possible to find
American-made pieces with crest medallions bearing both her profile portrait and the title "Miss C. L. Kellogg." But, once again, the opera singer portrayed in the medallion bears little resemblance to the host of decorative caryatids described above. So, what's a collector to do? First, be aware that John Jelliff & Company was not the only purveyor of neo-Grec parlor suites and, second, realize that it is difficult to make accurate attributions to specific workshops. Therefore, in the absence of a clearly documented provenance, it would be safer to assume that your find is not a "Jelliff." Having come to this realization, there is still much to do. Examine the beauty of the wood, the quality of the carvings, and the care exercised in the incising and gilding of details. Notice the condition of the frame and the upholstery. Then, stand back and consider overall design. True, it would be wonderful to know who made it and, yes, it's possible that you've seen that face before. But there are more important questions. Do you love it? Does she sing to you? For Further Reading: Ulysses G. Dietz, “Edwin Van Antwerp's Jelliff furniture," The Magazine Antiques (April 1990), 906913. Ulysses G. Dietz, "A major new piece in the Jelliff puzzle," The Magazine Antiques (May 1986), 1 09 6 1099. J. Stewart Johnson, "John Jelliff, cabinetmaker," The Magazine Antiques (August 1972), 256-261. Joan Bulman, Jenny Lind, London, 1956. Clara Louise Kellogg, Memoirs of an American Prima Donna, New York, 1913.
Profile views of caryatids from four different pieces of neo-Grec parlor furniture.
Victorian Times
President’s Message
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Dear Members, Edith Wharton's popularity today brought many people to The Contemporary for Christina Bishop's fine slide-lecture on Sunday, March 15th. It was an appropriate talk for Woman's History Month. During Edith Wharton’s time, Mercer County also had an extraordinary woman — Mrs. Fisher-Andrew. She first gained public attention as a Trenton business woman. Later, she published a fascinating book, Around the World by Auto. Her first husband, Clark Fisher, attended the Old Trenton Academy in the 1850s along with Washington and Ferdinand Roebling. During the Civil War, Mr. Fisher served as an engineer with the U.S. Navy. When the War ended, he devoted his energies to the business of manufacturing anvils in Trenton. When Clark Fisher died, his wife continued the enterprise and as such, she was among the first women manufacturers in the United States. Mrs. Fisher-Andrew became a pioneer of her sex when she toured the world in her automobile, thus combining business with pleasure. Remarkably, many photographs of this adventure survive. Today, these are privately owned by a teacher in Hamilton Township, whose relative was Mrs. Fisher-Andrew’s driver.
This astute business woman resided in a large manor house in Ewing Township, which still retains many of the purchases she made on this Grand Tour. The Fisher-Andrew home has been kept in pristine condition by the current heir to the property. In our last newsletter, I provided some background on Frank Magowan. Roberta Mayer, our magnificent sleuth, has since learned that Magowan commissioned the Herter Brothers to decorate his Trenton home in the mid-1890s. This was a serendipitous discovery as she was examining account books that are now preserved in the Downs Manuscript collection of the Winterthur Museum. Charles Webster, who maintains all the historical records at the Trenton Library, informed me that there are no interior pictures of the Magowan mansion at the library. However, he promises to provide a more complete biography on Mr. Magowan for this publication in the future. Remember that wonderful slide lecture on the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg? You can see this magnificent building, together with the Harrisburg Museum on Saturday, April 25th with our tour organizer, Mark Williams. The cost for the day's trip, including lunch in Harrisburg, is $25 per person. Call Mark to reserve your seat now (609- 394-5864). Make your check payable to VSA/DVC and send it to Mark Williams at 700 Parkside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
A sofa medallion with profile portrait of Clara Louise Kellogg
A profile portrait of Jenny Lind
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President’s Message (continued from page 3) continued on page 4 Our new Preservation Officer is Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner, P0 Box AP, 7590 Province Line Rd., Princeton, NJ 08542 (609)921-9191. She has been busy with preservation projects locally and completed her training in architecture in Great Britain. We are pleased that she has taken this position with our local chapter. Marie Puca and I are planning to go to VSA's Annual Meeting in Omaha June 10-14. The cost will soon be available. Come if you can! May’s meeting on Sunday, May 17th will include a slide-lecture by Julie Dunn-Morton, a
Calendar Ongoing-April 4, Paris in the 1890’s: Painters’ Prints in the Age of Bonnard, Vuillard and Toulouse-Lautrec is an exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Call (215) 763-8100. April 4, 1998 The Contemporary hosts its annual Four Views of Trenton Tours, which is being organized by Betty Holland. This year, the available tours are: 1. Trenton Underground 2. Trenton & the Arts 3. Trenton Recycled 4. Trenton’s Diversity Tickets are $35 per person. When making reservations, please note your first and second choices. Contact Vera Priene at (609) 882-3726 for a brochure. April 4, 1998 The 1998 Annual Historic Preservation Conference and Old House Fair will be held at the Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton. The theme of the conference is the romance, risk and reality of restoring old buildings. The keynote speaker is Timothy C. Forbes, publisher of American Heritage Magazine. Call (908) 442-1100 for additional information.
Victorian Times Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware. Julie’s presentation will introduce many of us to the marble sculpture of Harriet Hosmer, an American artist of the 19th century who spent her career working in Rome. She was part of a group of woman who worked professionally in sculpture. Henry James dubbed them “the White Marmorean Flock.” Julie will explore some literary themes that can be discerned in Hosmer’s work. Refreshments for our May meeting are up for grabs. If you would like to provide light refreshments for May or any other future meeting, give me a call at 883-4102. We hope to see you at our next meeting. Sincerely,
February 3-April 12, 1998 The Jewels of Lalique is an exhibition at the CooperHewitt National Design Museum, 2 E. 91st St., New York, New York. Call (212) 860-6868 for additional information. April 14, 1998 The Kuser Farm Mansion hosts a Victorian musical, As the Century Turns. Program begins at 7 p.m. Call (609) 890-3630 for advance reservations and further information. April 16-18, 1998 The Winterthur Museum will be holding a three-day seminar entitled Painted Furniture, 1750-1850: Regional Variations, offering lectures, tours, and workshops. Call (302) 888-4600 or (800) 448-3883 to register. April 17-26, 1998 The Cape May Spring Festival will include tours, special events, Vintage Dance Weekend (April 25-26), and an exhibition, Cape May Then and Now, at the Carriage House Gallery. April 22, 1998 The Kuser Farm Mansion hosts a video evening on an Overview of the 1893 Columbian Exposition and Stereoscopes. Program begins at 7 p.m. Call (609) 890-3630 for advance reservations and further information.
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Calendar (continued) April 25, 1998 Bus Trip to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Destinations include the Pennsylvania State Capitol and the State Museum. Fee is $25 per person. A light lunch will be included. Seating is limited! Call Mark Williams at (609) 394-5864 for reservations and additional information. May 3, 1998 The Contemporary Women’s Club hosts a A Symphony of Fashions by Nanette of Point Pleasant at Angeloni’s Cedar Gardens, State Hwy 33, Hamilton Square, NJ. Donations of $30 per person. Call Maria Puca at (609) 585-0224 or Dorothy Surtees at (609) 490-0385 for information and reservations. May 6, 1998 The Kuser Farm Mansion hosts a lecture and display, Doll Collecting — A Primer, by Denise Dale Zemlansky. Program begins at 7 p.m. Call (609) 890-3630 for advance reservations. May 8-August 23, 1998
Join the Delaware Valley Chapter of the VSA! Annual contributions: Individual $15 Household $20
Patron $50 Benefactor $75
Name ________________________________ Address ______________________________ City _________________________________ State____________________Zip___________ Phone________________________________ Areas of Interest_______________________ Amount enclosed________ Make checks payable to: The VSA/DV Chapter Mail Membership to: VSA/DV Chapter 176 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08608
The Brooklyn Museum presents Masters of Color and Light: Homer, Sargent, and the American Watercolor Movement. The show features 150 works from the late-18th century through the mid-20th century. Call (718) 6385000. May 13, 1998 The Kuser Farm Mansion hosts a lecture and display, Tobacco and Tobacco Products, by Robert H. Mucha. Program begins at 7 p.m. At 9 p.m., a video on “Cigar Box Collecting” will be presented. Call (609) 890-3630 for advance reservations and further information. May 17, 1998 The next business meeting of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Victorian Society in America begins at 1:30 p.m. at The Contemporary. At 2:30 p.m., Julie Dunn-Morton will present a slide lecture entitled The Sculpture of Harriet Hosmer. May 20, 1998 The Kuser Farm Mansion hosts a lecture and
A Carte de Visite — or visiting card — was a small photograph mounted on a piece of cardboard. Typically, these were 2 1/2 by 4 inches in size. They were produced by professional photographers in a studio setting and reached their height of popularity throughout the world during the years from 1860-1870. As the name suggests, most of these were portraits that were shared amongst family and friends. Today, they can also provide excellent documentary evidence of fashionable attire and furnishings. This beautifully -composed portrait was taken by I. G. Owen of Newton, N.J.
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Calendar (continued) O’HERN WORKS
display, Fashions of the 1860s, by Jane Peters. Program begins at 7 p.m. Call (609) 890-3630 for advance reservations and further information. June 3, 1998 The Contemporary Women’s Club hosts a Baseball & Picnic Buffet at Riverfront Stadium, One Thunder Road, Trenton, NJ. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Buffet served through the 5th inning. Tickets $25 per person. Children under 5 free. For inquiries or reservations call (609) 585-0224 or (609) 490-0385. June 10-14, 1998 The VSA Annual Meeting takes place in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa with a postconference trip to Lincoln Nebraska.
Custom Paperhanging Commercial & Residential
609.466.7875 Scott Mulhern
Fax: 609.466.7876
Hopewell, NJ
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Officers President — Violet Cox Vice President — Roberta Mayer Secretary — Marie Puca Treasurer — Donald Cox Program Director — Ben Whitmire Preservation Officer — Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner
The Victorian Society in America Delaware Valley Chapter 176 West State Street Trenton, New Jersey 08608
Next Meeting: May 17, 1998 1:30 p.m. at The Contemporary