Descending from the Hardenbergh family of New York’s Ulster County, this early-American leather armchair was recently featured in the journal American Furniture, published annually by the Chipstone Foundation (http://www.chipstone.org/). The article’s author, Erik K. Gronning, carefully compares the chair to several other Boston-made chairs from museum and private collections. In the course of its over-300-year history, HHS’s chair has endured several alterations, including removal of the original feet, leather upholstery, and brass tacking. The chair’s original scrolled arms have also been replaced.
Gronning attributes the chair’s earliest ownership to Johannes Hardenbergh (ca. 1670-1745), a Kingston merchant. In 1708, he, with Benjamin Faneuil and several others, purchased what is known as the “Great” or Hardenbergh Patent, encompassing approximately two million acres of land in the Catskill Mountains, including much of Ulster County. Faneuil was an agent for marketing and selling chairs produced by Thomas Fitch, the prominent Boston upholsterer. Faneuil sold many such chairs to wealthy New Yorkers.
Armchair, 1695-1710. Maple and oak. HHS Permanent Collection, gift of Alice Hasbrouck.
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The curatorial department wanted to ✨shine a light✨ on this beauty from Historic Huguenot Street's collections: This 17th-century candlestick is made of brass, a material often favored by the Dutch for its malleability and reflectivity. The object features repoussé metalwork, a process by which a pattern is hammered in the surface from the reverse side, resulting in a low-relief design. Candlesticks such as this one are not only decorative but also beneficial, as the multi-faceted surface reflects and disperses the light, enhancing the brightness of the candle's flame. The initials of the original owners (*HESM*KIDG*) are etched into its base.
Brass candlestick, 17th century. HHS Permanent Collection, Gift of the George H. Way Collection
This candlestick was one of the many incredible objects featured in Historic Huguenot Street’s most recent special exhibition, “Living In Style: Selections from the George Way Collection of Dutch Fine and Decorative Art.” You can shop the exhibition’s related merchandise online at https://historic-huguenot-street-museum-shop.myshopify.com/collections/living-in-style and save 15% at checkout using the promo code: Dutchroom15
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Thanks again, stay healthy, and we hope to see you soon! #MuseumsFromHome
Our buildings may be closed to the public, but our National Historic Landmark District has 10-acres of beautiful grounds where you can picnic with your family and explore our free, downloadable Walking Tour App: https://www.huguenotstreet.org/app. To download the app, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play and search Huguenot Street. For every photo of the site that you post using #ViewFromHuguenot, your name will be entered into a raffle to win an HHS Woven Blanket.
Have any questions about last week’s virtual offerings? Feel free to send us an email at education@huguenotstreet.org
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Civil War Pocket Chessboard (circa 1862)
Made simply out of paper, cardboard, and fabric; this small chessboard (only 7.25" x 6") belonged to Johannes LeFevre. Johannes, a New Paltz resident, was fatally wounded when leading his troops in the battle of Cedar Creek during the Civil War. The squares on the board are created by folds in the paper which the chess pieces tuck into. The pieces themselves are stamped on both sides in red or blue. Scrawled on the top left of the board is the text "Johannes LeFevre 126 Reg. N.Y.R. 1862." @huguenotstreet Permanent Collection, Gift of John LeFevre
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Thanks again, stay healthy, and we hope to see you soon! #MuseumsFromHome
