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Elegance & Strength:
Stenciled Furniture and the Shell Motif
(May 2016-Dec 2017)

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"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. 

All Photos  ©2016 CCHS, All Rights Reserved. 
The Columbia County Historical Society is supported in part by the County of Columbia, New York
with the support of Matt Murell, Chairman of the Board at the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.
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The Columbia County  Historical Society
is ​a private 501 (c )(3) nonprofit organization
Chartered by the  Board of Regents
State Education Department, The University of the State of New York
Copyright © 2022,  Columbia County Historical Society
PO Box 311, 5 Albany Avenue,  Kinderhook, NY 12106
​ 518 758 9265   |  ops@cchsny.org
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Museum Association of New York
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