Furniture: Armchair made for P. T. Barnum by Julius Dessoir
Armchair made for P. T. Barnum by Julius Dessoir. This style of furniture is called Chinese Chippendale. Chippendale refers to the well-known English cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, whose furniture designs and design books achieved acclaim in the 1700s. His work featured the use of both Chinese- and Gothic-style motifs and carvings. In this example the motifs are quite fanciful. The back of the chair features moths, swan-like creatures, and bells hanging from a curved, tent-like structure. At the termination of the arms are carved dog-heads that appear more like mythical creatures.
Julius Dessoir was a Prussian emigre who came to America in the 1840s, and was naturalized on October 19, 1852. The first listing of his work as a cabinet maker is in the 1842-1843 New York City city directory. His furniture making business was based on Broadway, and he became well known for elaborate furniture work. He exhibited his work in the New York Crystal Palace of 1853. Dessoir's work for Barnum was done within the first decade of his arrival in America, and shows not only P. T. Barnum’s taste for elaborately carved furniture, but also Dessoir’s superior skill level as a craftsman. A suite of furniture was made for Barnum's first family home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, located on present day Fairfield Avenue. It was designed in the Moorish revival style by Leopold Eidlitz, with additional inspiration from the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. It was built between 1847 and 1848 at a cost of $100,000 and sat on seventeen acres of land, extensively landscaped. In December of 1857 the mansion burned, apparently due to smoldering ashes from a workman's pipe. The family was not occupying the home at the time, and most likely the set of furniture was located elsewhere. However contemporary notes say that precious items were saved from the burning house, so it is also possible the furniture was rescued from the fire.
Donated to the museum in 1888 by Nancy Fish Barnum.
Julius Dessoir was a Prussian emigre who came to America in the 1840s, and was naturalized on October 19, 1852. The first listing of his work as a cabinet maker is in the 1842-1843 New York City city directory. His furniture making business was based on Broadway, and he became well known for elaborate furniture work. He exhibited his work in the New York Crystal Palace of 1853. Dessoir's work for Barnum was done within the first decade of his arrival in America, and shows not only P. T. Barnum’s taste for elaborately carved furniture, but also Dessoir’s superior skill level as a craftsman. A suite of furniture was made for Barnum's first family home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, located on present day Fairfield Avenue. It was designed in the Moorish revival style by Leopold Eidlitz, with additional inspiration from the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. It was built between 1847 and 1848 at a cost of $100,000 and sat on seventeen acres of land, extensively landscaped. In December of 1857 the mansion burned, apparently due to smoldering ashes from a workman's pipe. The family was not occupying the home at the time, and most likely the set of furniture was located elsewhere. However contemporary notes say that precious items were saved from the burning house, so it is also possible the furniture was rescued from the fire.
Donated to the museum in 1888 by Nancy Fish Barnum.
Gift of Nancy Fish Barnum
1888.001.003