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Duncan Phyfe

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia

[orig. Duncan Fife] (born 1768, near Loch Fannich, Ross and Cromarty, Scot.—died Aug. 16, 1854, New York, N.Y., U.S.) Scottish-born U.S. furniture designer. His family settled in Albany, N.Y., 1784; there he became an apprentice cabinetmaker and eventually opened his own shop. In 1792 he moved to New York City, where he changed the spelling of his name and became so successful that he employed 100 carvers and cabinetmakers. He was one of the first Americans to use the factory method of manufacturing furniture successfully. Though he did not originate a new furniture style, he interpreted fashionable European styles—Sheraton, Regency, Directoire, Empire—with such grace that he became a major exponent of Neoclassicism. His furniture, decorated with typical period ornaments such as harps and acanthus leaves, was generally of high-quality mahogany.


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Duncan Phyfe: Pure artistry
; ...non-collectors and non-antiques buffs as Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854). In fact, his name was probably...and tasteful decorations. In addition, Duncan Phyfe was attuned to the fashion of the moment...thunderbolts and the waterleaf were typical of Duncan Phyfe's artistry. He was known for ... Read more
Elegant Furniture
; ...century, the renowned furniture maker Duncan Phyfe ran a thriving workshop on what is now...establishment in the county." Since then, Duncan Phyfe's reputation as a furniture craftsman...Elegant Assortment: The Furniture of Duncan Phyfe and His Contemporaries," features 30... Read more
Common Sense Antiques
; ...cabinetmaker with the musical name, Duncan Phyfe, In fact, his family name was "Fife...which he did not work was the style, "Duncan Phyfe." There is no single style attributed to Duncan Phyfe that can truly be called "Duncan Phyfe... Read more
Chair is no Duncan Phyfe
; ...not even in the proverbial ball park. Duncan Phyfe was born in Lock Fannich, Scotland in...are literally sick of going to see "Duncan Phyfe" tables that turn out to be from the...S. has nothing whatever to do with Duncan Phyfe, and is a chair that is based on a mishmash... Read more
Chair not from Duncan (or Barney) Phyfe
; ...is not the celebrated furniture maker Duncan Phyfe. He was born in Scotland in 1768, but...are literally sick of going to see "Duncan Phyfe" tables that turn out to be from the...chair has nothing whatever to do with Duncan Phyfe, and is a chair that is based on a mishmash... Read more
Make the most of online auctions
; ...best characterize the item you're looking for; for instance, "Duncan Phyfe console table." Search dumb. Try misspelling the search term. While everyone else bids on the Duncan Phyfe table, you could have the "Duncan Fife" table all to yourself... Read more
TORN CANING DEVALUES CHAIR.(At Home)
; ...not even in the proverbial ball park. Duncan Phyfe was born in Lock Fannich, Scotland...we are literally sick of going to see Duncan Phyfe tables that turn out to be from the...S. has nothing whatever to do with Duncan Phyfe, and is a chair that is based on a mishmash... Read more
Duncan Phyfe sofa, $25,875, Carlsen
; A Federal sofa attributed to Duncan Phyfe, with gilded paw feet and relief carved crest (shown), sold for $25,875 at a mid-summer antiques auction held by Carlsen Gallery... Read more
Duncan Phyfe, revisitus.
; ...fronts of the shop and warehouse of Duncan Phyfe, a man whose name, more than any other...matter remain matters of speculation. Duncan Phyfe was born in Scotland in 1768 and came...published Furniture Masterpieces of Duncan Phyfe, the first monograph on an American... Read more
"In the style of--".(A CLOSER LOOK)(Ernest Hagen)
; If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Duncan Phyfe is the most flattered furniture maker in American history...1930 Sears Roebuck spring catalog, for example, offered a Duncan Phyfe Adaptation dining room set, with side chairs priced at under... Read more

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Duncan Phyfe
Duncan Phyfe Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854), Scottish-born American...furniture makers in the United States. Duncan Phyfe was born at Loch Fannich. He probably...name until, in 1837, it was changed to Duncan Phyfe and Son. Ten years later, because he... Read more
Duncan Phyfe
Duncan Phyfe , c.1768-1854, American cabinetmaker, b. Scotland. He emigrated...produced in his workshop, his designs were the nucleus of the Duncan Phyfe style. Author not available, PHYFE, DUNCAN. , The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008 Read more
George Hepplewhite
...elegance, and utility associated with the graceful Neoclassical style (e.g., chairs with straight, tapered legs and oval backs). His designs were borrowed by Thomas Sheraton and Duncan Phyfe . George Hepplewhite George Hepplewhite George Hepplewhite Read more
American art
...models, although in furniture some variations appeared in the work of talented artisans such as Samuel McIntire and Duncan Phyfe . In the first half of the 18th cent. a growing demand for portrait painting attracted such artists as John Smibert... Read more
Glue
...sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries used glue in furniture construction, including Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Duncan Phyfe, the Adams brothers, and Sheraton. The glues used by these cabinet makers were made from animal hides, hooves, and other... Read more

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