Elegance & Strength:
Stenciled Furniture and the Shell Motif
(May 2016-Dec 2017)
"The necessary article of Chairs are manufactured in [...] large quantities, and for elegance and strength, no way inferior to the cabinet furniture. That of fancy is carried to an unrivaled degree of elegance."
​                                                                                                                                                                        -- New York Register and City Directory, 1805  

Made in New York

Nineteenth century fancy furniture made in New York was the embodiment of its name: a creative and imaginative flight of fancy.  Fancy side chairs were popular for their decorative painted style, light construction, and rushed or caned seats.  After 1815, painted stencils on furniture allowed detailed designs to be easily produced with accuracy.  Several stencils might be used to achieve a single design. 

The Shell Motif

The shell motif has a varied history in America. In the 18th century, shell motifs were carved into furniture to identify the location and seaport where a particular piece was constructed. Baltimore, Boston, Newport, and New York City all had their own specific take on the shell.  A growing sense of national identity after the American Revolutionary War helped standardize furniture styles and motifs, although regional variations still existed. 
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