384 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS October, 1907 



contained a carpet, window curtains and open fire, a high- 

 post bedstead and curtains, dressing-table, large looking- 

 glass, wash-basin and jug, six mahogany chairs and pictures 

 on the wall. Mrs. Washington's room had a bedstead with 

 curtains, a dressing-table and glass, a writing-table and a 

 writing-chair, an easy chair, two mahogany chairs, a chest of 

 drawers, clock and pictures; and, of course, an open fire, with 



5 — A Late XIX Century Bedroom ; Window Rocker, Sheraton Chairs, Heppelwhite 



Bed with Modern Drapery 



lowing advertisement from a New York paper, in 1803, 

 will suffice to show that beautiful articles in the Empire style 

 could be produced in this country. We read: "Honore 

 Lannuier, cabinetmaker, just arrived from France, and who 

 has worked at his trade with the most celebrated cabinet- 

 makers of Europe, takes the liberty of informing the public 

 that he makes all sorts of furniture — beds, chairs, etc. — in 

 the newest and latest French fashion; and 

 that he has brought for that purpose gilt 

 and brass frames, borders of ornaments 

 and handsome safe locks, as well as new 

 patterns." 



Cabinetmakers and upholsterers flocked 

 here in great numbers from England also, 

 and we know from the advertisements that 

 the native workmen industriously kept 

 abreast of the latest fashions. The de- 

 signs of the famous Mr. Stafford, of Bath, 

 and Mr. Bullock, of Tenterden Street, 

 were as well known in New York as they 

 were in London. 



Taking a few notes from advertisements 

 regarding bedroom furniture, we find that 

 Paterson & Dennis, 54 John Street, have, 

 in 1 8 10, a handsome assortment of fancy 

 chairs, dining and bedroom chairs. The 

 latter, unfortunately, are not described. 

 C. Christian, in 1817, cabinetmaker, 58 

 Fulton Street, has "furniture of the finest 

 quality and latest fashions," including 

 "carved and plain bedsteads"; Paxton & 

 Co., in 1 8 17, sell "canted corner dressing 

 and plain bureaus"; and Elam Williams, 

 a cabinetmaker at 167 William Street, sells 



the usual brass furnishings. It will be 

 noticed that these rooms of north and 

 south are practically eighteenth century in 

 style, but in conservative homes such bed- 

 rooms lingered for many years and still 

 exist in many country houses owned by the 

 descendants of the original possessors. 



That the Empire furniture came to this 

 country we have abundant proof. Some 

 of the very best examples crossed the water 

 to furnish Joseph Bonaparte's house near 

 Bordentown, N. J. The furniture that he 

 imported to adorn "Point Breeze" was of 

 the richest description, as the few specimens 

 still in this country prove. Scarcely less 

 sumptuous was the furniture owned by 

 Madame Jumel, which came to auction in 

 1 82 1, and was described in the advertise- 

 ment as "being a careful selection made in 

 Paris by the best judges from the museum 

 and palace of the late Emperor." This 

 superb furniture was placed in the Morris 

 House on Harlem Heights, purchased by 

 Madame Jumel in 18 10. She could well 

 afford rich furniture, and her life in Paris 

 under the patronage of the Marquis de 

 Lafayette gave her every opportunity to know what was 

 correct. 



The wealthy homes of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, 

 Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Charleston, etc., were 

 constantly refurnished to suit the fashion of the day. Fine 

 articles were imported, and many excellent cabinetmakers 

 and upholsterers came to this country in the early days of the 

 republic, as they had done during Colonial times. The fol- 



6 — The " French Bedstead " Had a Long Popularity 



"pillar and claw tables, mahogany bedsteads, field and high- 

 post bedsteads," in 18 18. In 18 12 "high-post mahogany 

 and field-top carved bedsteads" and "orange bed and win- 

 dow curtains with gilt cornices" come to auction. Other 

 pieces of bedroom furniture advertised in the first quarter of 

 the century are: "French dressing-bureau and toilet glass" 

 ( 1823) ; "French pillar and column bureaus with toilets com- 

 plete" (1824); "ladies' writing secretaries and dressing- 



