David Wolcott Kendall Furniture Grand Rapids, Michigan
Photography and design by Tom Wagner, produced by Storming the Castle Pictures (StCP) for the Collaborative Design and Furniture Design Programs of Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) and in collaboration with the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives, Grand Rapids Library (GRPL), all images ©2012-2017 Tom Wagner/GRPM/KCAD and ©2012-2017 Tom Wagner/GRPL No usage or reproduction in whole or in part permitted without written permission of copyright holders Tom Wagner (photographer), KCAD, GRPM, GRPL www.STORMINGtheCASTLEPICTURES.com, www.KCAD.edu, www.GRPM.org, www.GRPL.org
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This is a Phoenix Furniture Catalog of c.1898 from the Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) Archives. '...When Grand Rapids furniture salesmen took to the road to sell the products of the local plants they had to do one of two things. They had to ship their furniture samples by freight to the cities on their routes in order to show them to prospective customers, or to depend upon their ability to present word pictures of the furniture so vividly that the buyers could conjure a tempting conception of the merits of the merchandise. Shipping furniture was slow and costly. Oral descriptions weren’t always too effective. Many buyers were not adept at visualizing the picture the salesman was attempting to convey. Why couldn’t furniture be photographed so expertly that the prospective buyer could see for himself the beauty of its design and style?,' quoted from the Grand Rapids Historical Commission's 'Furniture City History' website.
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The 1897 Phoenix Furniture Catalog from Grand Rapids Public Library Archives. The first such photo catalogs were done in Grand Rapids in 1890, Grand Rapids Historical Commission. The GRPL Archive contains four Phoenix Furniture Catalogs from this period and in this style: each furniture photograph was printed as a cyanotype, an inexpensive photo printing method, the same process used to make as engineering blueprints until late in the 20th century. The furniture photos were then bound into book form to create a trade catalog for salesmen and marketing. The covers of these catalogs were made of wood, re-purposed off-cuts from furniture production.
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COLLABORATIONS Furniture is a unique mix of design and art; Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University's, (KCAD), Furniture Design program includes courses in Sculpture and Functional Art, 3D Design, Art History, as well as Interior and Industrial Design. The college was founded around the need and desire to supply skilled designers to the furniture industry, and though Grand Rapids is no longer “Furniture City,” KCAD has expanded and evolved, the unique collection of furniture represented in this publication and attributed to the man in who's name the college was founded, David Wolcott Kendall. In Chris Carron's book, Grand Rapids Furniture, he points out that Grand Rapids' role as "Furniture City" was not just through the making of furniture, but by also establishing a semi-annual furniture market, publishing the Grand Rapids Furniture Record, and the Grand Rapids Public Library's collection of important publications and writings on furniture. The documentation of what is made and what we collect is part of the process of remembering and of building what comes next. It is with a love of books and furniture that we put this publication together to share a large part of the D.W. Kendall collection still housed at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, and one of the many resources for our students at KCAD that our community maintains as part of its history in furniture. This project is funded by Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University with the intention of bringing the David Wolcott Kendall furniture collection of the Grand Rapids Public Museum out for the public to see and to draw attention to his notable historical body of work. It is with thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives, Grand Rapids Library (GRPL), KCAD, Christian (Chris) Carron for his book Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America’s Furniture City, Alex Forest, Tim Gleisner, Tim Priest, Max Shangle and Julie Tabberer. Thank you, Gayle DeBruyn, Associate Professor Chair, Furniture Program Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University
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David Wolcott Kendall David Kendall established his credentials as “The Dean of American Designers" a century ago. His research, inventions, manufacturing, and marketing skills directly contributed to the development, growth, strength, and economic health of the American furniture industry. Kendall, (b1851-d1910), had both a direct and indirect impact on the history of American furniture in design, manufacturability and marketability. Arriving to Grand Rapids in 1879 to work at the Phoenix Furniture company as a draftsman and advancing to designer by 1882. Kendall set up a chemistry laboratory in the basement at Phoenix and developed special wood stains and finishes that transformed the look of woods, such as oak and ash, making them appear like walnut and other woods more attractive to customers of the period. His “McKinley Chair," named after President William McKinley who selected it for installation in the White House, is said to be the genesis of the modern Arts and Crafts Movement. Kendall was also credited with developing the Morris chair, and office chairs that revolve and recline. Though he never patented the designs, his ideas still reverberate in the office furniture industry that continues to thrive in West Michigan.
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) The roots of KCAD lead back to 1928 and Helen M. Kendall's bequest which established the David Wolcott Kendall Memorial School as a way to continue her husband's legacy of creativity, education, and innovation. The school opened its doors on March 1, 1931, with a total enrollment of 35 art students. The school was housed in the old Kendall homestead at 145 Fountain Street, amid the lumber baron-era mansions in the area of Grand Rapids now known as Heritage Hill. The school offered a two-year program in the fundamentals of art and design and by the mid-1930's was making a name nationwide as the heir to the legacy of the people who built the Grand Rapids furniture industry. The college continues to answer the continuing need for industry design professionals. Over 90% of the members of the American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) are Kendall College graduates.
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David Wolcott Kendall Furniture Collection
Grand Rapids Public Museum
272 Pearl Street N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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Catalogs like these contain handwritten notes, capturing a little history of those that used them. Several of the four Phoenix Furniture Catalog from this period at the Grand Rapids Library Archives have black pencil marks visible on some of the photos. The archivist believes the salesmen sketched in changes, like those at right, to reflect how the chair design evolved after the original chair was photographed, showing the furniture purchaser what his delivered chair would actually look like. Several photographs in this catalog have drawings like this on them. The numbers and calculations on the wood covers, seen towards bottom of following page, are also notes of the time. These were probably written by the furniture maker in the factory, prior to wood being re-purposed as book covers.
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sepia catalog page of furniture as a spread
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This is a book of Phoenix Furniture photographic prints titled, 'Len. M. Neely. WITH Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids,- Mich [sic],' from the GRPL Archive. (Note old text, upside down on the inside center of the broken binding of this book; perhaps this material was repurposed from an older book as it does not appear to be part of text associated with this assemblage.) Phoenix Furniture employed the local photographer Len. M. Neely, who first photographed their 1878 catalog. 'Studio lighting in those days was natural, not electric. Photographers’ studios were always located where a skylight was available; most furniture plants would have had skylights available in some part of the factory,' and from early on photos were done in the factories, to avoid having to transport furniture to the photographers studios. A trade catalog might contain more than 100 pieces of furniture. (Grand Rapids Historical Commission).
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The institutions collaborating in this project: Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University 17 Fountain Street N.W. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503 Phone 800.676.2787 Grand Rapids Public Museum 272 Pearl Street N.W. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49504 Phone 616.929.1700 Grand Rapids Public Library 111 Library Street N.E. Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 Phone 616.988.5400
Resources: Grand Rapids Public Museum, Community Archives Research Center Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History & Special Collections Kendall College of Art and Design Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America’s Furniture City, Village Press, 1998, by Christian G. Carron With thanks to: Christian G. Carron Alex Forist Tim Gleisner Tim Priest Max Shangle Julie Tabberer Photographs: Images of DW Kendall are copyrighted and rights managed, and are from the KCAD image collection, attribution of historical photographers unknown; images can be found at KCAD's smugmug.com image collection, ©1928 -- 2016. Furniture and flat-art photographs included in the book are copyrighted and rights managed, photographs by Tom Wagner with assistance of Jordan Parham, Kristin Underhill, Gayle DeBruyn; images can be found on the GRPM collection website, www.grpmcollections.org and in the GRPL collection, ©2014 -- 2016
Table of Contents
page description Front Cover: McKinley Chair, Back View. From the furniture collection of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, (GRPM). Accession number 132302 2
Cover 1898 Phoenix Furniture Catalog with description.
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Wooden and paper pages, inside back of 1897 Phoenix Furniture Catalog; the wood is the back cover of the catalog and is made from offcuts/wood-scraps from furniture manufacture. There are contemporaneous notes on the wood, salesman's notes, and those of a furniture carpenter, made when the wood was still intended for use in furniture. From the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives, Grand Rapids Library (GRPL). Collection 232 / box 38. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8).
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McKinley Chair, in the Phoenix Furniture Catalog of 1897/1898. From the GRPL collections. Collection 232 / box 38. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8). Page from Phoenix Furniture Catalog, and caption. From the GRPL collection. Collection 232 / box 38. Collaborations: Thank you letter. Half cartoon (Sketch) of a hutch c.1884, “The 1st piece I drew at the Phoenix. DWK.” Accessioned May 2, 1995 to the GRPM Collection. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 1995.44 Watercolor Painting Signed: “D. W. Kendall.” Scenery and buildings in muted shades of brown & green. Children in front of buildings in long grey dresses & white caps, size13” x 9,” Gift of the Grand Rapids Museum, Accessioned, June 20, 1987 to the GRPM Collection. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 87.84 Watercolor Painting Signed: “D. W. Kendall.” Reflections of houses and trees in water. Muted browns, grays & greens, size 13" x 9”,Gift of the Grand Rapids Museum. Accessioned, June 20, 1987 to the GRPM Collection. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 87.84 Portrait of David W. Kendall, from the image collection of Kendall College of Art and Design, (KCAD). Biography notes of KCAD and David W. Kendall. Stereo-card photograph of the Phoenix Furniture Factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From the GRPL Collection. Accession number 76-2-69
Label from Phoenix Office Furniture, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Single unused gummed label: black and white with image of a phoenix bird rising from the ashes and the words “Phoenix Furniture Co. Established 1872, Grand Rapids, ca. 1880.” Accessioned May 2,1995 to the GRPM Collection. Advertisements for the Phoenix Furniture Company from the 1910's often depict a Phoenix bird taking flight from a blazing fire. Even though Phoenix Furniture became part of the Robert W. Irwin Co. in 1920, advertisements continued to show lines from the “Phoenix Furniture Company” until at least 1926. Around this time, wording in adverts and on a new, more rectangular logo of the phoenix bird rising from the flames changed to “PHOENIX FURNITURE/MADE BY/ROBERT W. IRWIN CO.” (Carron, 1998). From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 1995.44 19
Scroll Detail from Bookcase, ca 1890 attributed to Phoenix Furniture Company, designed by David Wolcott Kendall (see more on pages 33- 48). From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 140190
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Court Cabinet, 1880-1910, with inscription plate, (below), Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 140196
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Inscription on court cabinet: “Presented by Mrs. D W Kendall To The Furniture Guild In memory of DAVID WOLCOTT KENDALL, A.D. 1910.” From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 140196
Table of Contents page description 29-30 Keys for bookcase, Yale and Towne Manufacturing; both sides of the keys shown. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 140190 31-32 33-48
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Photographic prints/catalog, “Len. M. Neely. With Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids,-Mich [sic].” From the the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 37. (Further information, see caption p.100) Bookcase, Oak with Cremona finish ca.1890, Design and Cremona finish recipe attributed to David Walcott Kendall, Phoenix Furniture, Grand Rapids, MI. English Aesthetic, Arts and Crafts Influence, size 78”H x 57”W x 14”D, consists of 4 Small Shelves, reeded post attached vertically in front; either side of 2 door bookcase, 3 sections, glass panels, 4th section wood. Bookcase with foliate carving under each set of shelves. One full length drawer w/ lion heads pulls under bookcase. Component shelf-system within Sideboard, previous images. Accessioned May 15,1981 to the GRPM Collection. Accession number 140190 Casters for the Bookcase on previous pages. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 140190 Side Board, Buffet, Mission Oak, Malachite finish, Art Nouveau c.1880, Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. Celtic motifs, Arts and Crafts spindled forms. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 142441 Finial pencil sketches. From the GRPM collection. Accession number 1995.44 Page from the 1897 Phoenix Furniture Co. Catalog and caption. From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 38. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8).
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Secretary – Fall – Front, Walnut and Brass 1887-1888, designed by D.W. Kendall, Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. Originally purchased for the Grand Rapids City Hall in the office of the City Engineer. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 1998.25.1
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Page from the Phoenix Furniture Co., Catalog of 1897. From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 38. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8).
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McKinley Chair – Introduced 1894-1896, and Patented 1897 by Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. The chair has broad straight lines; the only curves being arches under the arms between the square s spindles and skirt of similar design, the back is slightly rounded at the corners and is caned as is the seat, size 30”W x 22”D x 35”H. Cain of chair was repaired in 1987, Finish repaired 1993. “The McKinley chair derived its nickname from its purchase by President William McKinley.” Accessioned into the GRPM Collection July 10, 1978. From the GRPL Collection. Accession number 132302 McKinley Rocking Chair,1897-1901, Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. The prototype of this chair was presented to President McKinley by David Wolcott Kendall, and the chair was then named the McKinley chair. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 146266 Bedroom furniture suite cartoon (sketch) by D.W.K. for Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. Headboard, dresser, washstand. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 1995.44 Hall Tree, (umbrella and hat stand), Walnut. Part of the GRPM Collection. Accession number 136129
99-100 Photographic prints/catalog, “Len. M. Neely. WITH Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids,- Mich [sic].” From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 37. (Further information, see caption p.100) 101-- Cained Side Chair c.1910, attributed to: Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. Original Owner: 106 David Wolcott Kendall. Late Victorian, (Art Nouveau), Oriental influence, Oak, Cremona finish, back pierced and carved in abstract floral and geometric designs, ball type finials and stiles decorated with simple repeating circle motif rear legs turned, high unadorned spindle stretchers. Front apron has simple hole and straight grooved design, baluster front leg have double-flanged feet. Cained seat restored 1981. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 139148
Table of Contents page description 107-108 Page from the Phoenix Furniture Co., Catalog of 1897. From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 38. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8). 110-115 Taboret, (Small Stool), Oak, Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. Attributed, by catalog similarities, to David Kendall as designer. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 143284 106-122 Taboret, hexagonal table, (small stool), Oak, Phoenix Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, MI. Attributed, by catalog similarities, to David Kendall as designer. Moorish or Arabesque, jig-sawn, cut-out, stenciled painted, trifoil, hour glass, stenciled product number in black ink under table top “496” gives a probable date of introduction of Spring 1896, size 24”H x 28”W x 24”D. Purchased from Don Marek, Heartwood Antiques, Grand Rapids. MI. Accessioned December 10, 1991 to the GRPM collection. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 91.64.1 123-124 Pages from the Phoenix Furniture Co., Catalog of 1898. From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 38. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8). 125 Project collaborators 126 Photograph of David Wolcott Kendall and Hellen M Kendall, Part of the KCAD image collection. 127-128 David Wolcott Kendall obituary, published in the Furniture Journal at the time of his death. Part of the KCAD image collection. 129 Furniture tag found in dresser during while preparing to photograph the furniture, (the tag was returned to the dresser after photograph was taken). Part of the GRPM Collection. 130 131
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Reverse of postcard on page 123, of the Phoenix Furniture Factory Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. From the GRPL Collection. Accession number 89.2.113
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Postcard showing the Phoenix Furniture Factory Co., in Grand Rapids, Michigan: reverse of postcard shown on page 125. From the GRPL Collection. Accession number 89.2.113
135-138 Phoenix Furniture Co., Catalogs from 1897 and 1898. From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 37 139-140 Wood and paper inside back of 1897 Phoenix Furniture Salesman's Catalog, with salesman notes; the back cover is made of wood-scrap left over from furniture manufacture. From the GRPL Collection. Collection 232 / box 37. (Further information see captions p. 2 and p. 8). 141-142 Drawing of the Phoenix Furniture Company factory, which was located on the corner of West Fulton and Summer, Grand Rapids, MI. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 141720 Back Cover: McKinley Chair, Side View. From the GRPM Collection. Accession number 132302
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shot of catalog with a page flipping/moving
The furniture pictured in this book is part of the Grand Rapids Public Museum collection in Grand Rapids, MI, and can be found on-line at www.grpmcollections.org by entering the piece description or accession number. Some of the photos and documents can be found at www.grpl.org/digitalcollections, the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections, Archives, Grand Rapids Library, Grand Rapids, MI.
With special thanks and appreciation to the production team: photographic assistance from Jordan Parham Kristin Underhill, Lou Schakel, Gayle DeBruyn, and the GRPM Archive staff. And thank you Dale Robertson for your support of such collaborative community educational and historical projects.