Featured Artifact: Sofa Owned by Alexander Hamilton

 

Fig. 1:  Sheraton style sofa in mahogany, originally upholstered in black
horse hair (pictured here in rose colored fabric upholstery), 1780-1800.

Morristown NHP’s records indicate that this Sheraton style sofa in mahogany, from 1780-1800, was once owned by Alexander Hamilton.  Sheraton style furniture, first devised by the English cabinet maker Thomas Sheraton, was one of the most reproduced styles of furniture in the United States during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.  This sofa is characterized by a stoped paneled top rail, plain bottom rail, reeded arms on leaf carved balusters, turned and reeded feet, and the seat and back was originally upholstered in black horse hair. This sofa epitomizes the neoclassical Sheraton style, which emphasized delicate straight lines, light construction, and contrasting veneers.  Acquired by the Washington Association of New Jersey, the sofa was put on display in the Ford Mansion before it was transferred to the Morristown NHP collection in 1933.

 

Fig. 2: Reeded arms on leaf carved balusters.

 Fig. 3: Reeded feet and plain bottom rail.

 

This feature by Michael King, Drew University.