The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Richard A. Bourne

Title: Photographs and drawings of furniture

Dates: [ca. 1869-ca. 1900]

Call No.: Col. 250

Acc. No.: 79x223

Quantity: ca. 230 items

Location: 18 B 5

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Richard A. Bourne was probably a rare book and manuscript dealer in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection consists of over 230 photographs, photobooks, photocards, trade cards, advertisements, and drawings depicting furniture made in the latter part of the 19th century. The bulk of the firms represented operated in the Midwestern portion of the United States. Many of the items feature prices and information needed for ordering. Types of furniture represented include: bedroom suites, parlor suites, secretaries, book cases, hall stands, folding chairs, children’s wagon toys, tables, side boards, wash stands, bureaus with mirrors, cylinder desks, cribs, rockers, swivel chairs, and an automatic step ladder. Assortments of the same object in different woods are represented. Chairs upholstered with cloth or leather and with caned seats are shown.

The drawings are similar to items featured in photographs. One set of twelve drawings features decorative elements for headboards for a bed, sideboard tops, wardrobes, and a mirror frame. Another set of five drawings was done on the back of photocards bearing the name Daniel Stuber, Photographer, Louisville, Ky. The drawings match what is depicted in the photos. Two additional drawings illustrate beds.

ORGANIZATION

Not in any particular order, although the materials have been divided by name of manufacturer.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Richard A. Bourne & Co.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Advertising - House furnishings.

Bedroom furniture.

Beds - Drawings.

Bookcases.

Chairs.

Desks.

Furniture - Styles.

Furniture design.

Furniture - Drawings.

Furniture, Victorian - Photographs - United States.

Furniture industry and trade - United States.

Living rooms.

Mirrors.

Seating (Furniture)

Tables.

Upholstered furniture.

Advertising.

Albumen prints.

Drawings.

Sketches.

Photographic prints.

Business cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 18 B 5

Box 1:

Folder 1: Waters and Barrett Metropolitan Works (Sheboygan Mfg. Co.):

Sheet of photos of stools, chairs, high chairs, rocking chairs, picture of factory

Folder 2: J. Theisinger: photos of stool, chair, and sofa (or settee) frames

(no. 1-8 correspond to photos in “drawing book”)

Folders 3-4: attributed to J. Theisinger, no. 3, 5, 6, 12, 13-17: photos of chair and settee frames

Folder 5: L. Wunsch & Co., 276 Main St., Cincinnati, 1871-1878: photos of sofas and chairs

Folder 6: Jacob Theisinger: photos of sofa and chair frames

Folder 7: L. Wunsch & Co., Cincinnati: photos of settees, sofas, and chairs

Folder 8: Thomas Holiday & Co.: photos: automatic step ladder, C. Streit sofa, Sheboygan chairs; ad for Lovell’s step ladders, sold by Holliday & Co.

Folder 9: possibly Schluetter, Feuss & Co.: photos of dressers with mirror; on back of one photo: ad for slant-top secretary

Folder 10: Schluetter, Feuss & Co., Cincinnati, 1872-1874: photos of dressers with mirrors, photo of a wardrobe

Folder 11: Buck & Co.: bound catalog with photos of chairs and rocking chairs with cane seats; no text, but chairs are numbered

Folder 12: Buck & Co.: loose carte-de-visite photos depicting chairs and rocking chairs with cane seats; most are labeled on back (no prices, however)

Folder 13: Powell & Brundrett, Dayton, Ohio, 1873: trade cards, six photos of tables, four of which are described on back;

Attributed to Theisinger, 1871: broadside or catalog cut up and pasted onto business cards of J.C. Boone & Bro., Cincinnati; catalog pictures depict settee and chair frames, including Gothic style chairs and rocking chairs

Folder 14: Ohio Furniture Co., Columbus, Ohio (1867-still in business in 1881): Photos of secretaries, Windsor chairs, and bookcases

Folder 15: Schneebeck & Risch, Cincinnati (1873-1877): photos of a bedroom suite: bedstead, dresser with mirror, washstand, wardrobe

Folder 16: H.N. Wenning, Cincinnati” photos of bedroom suite: bedstead, dresser with mirror, washstand, table

Folder 17: Theophilus Roller, Allegheny City, Pa.: price list and catalogue; pasted inside the front of the catalog is a circular letter from Martin Grossman of New York, the catalog includes photos of chair, rocking chair, settee, sofa, and stool frames

Folder 18: possibly H.N. Wenning: photos of dressing bureaus with mirrors

Box 2;

Folder 1: anonymous, photos of two pier mirrors, no. 7 and no. 10

Folder 2: Pape Bros. & Kugemann, Cincinnati: Catalogue of Prices [for moldings, oval frames, solid ovals, looking glass frames]

Folder 3: J. W. Tefft, extension table slide manufacturer, Buffalo, NY: price list/order form, with names and amounts written on back

Folder 4: New Haven Folding Chair Co. (1871): catalog with price list and colored pictures of folding chairs and an invalid rolling chair

Folder 5: J. Theisinger & Co.: catalog with photos of chair, rocking chair, and settee frames; laid into the catalog is an envelope with the firm name of Schuchert & Theisinger; also two loose photos of chair and settee frames

Folder 6: H. N. Wenning & Co., Cincinnati: catalog, 1869: photos of bedsteads, side boards, hall tree (hat rack), washstands, bureaus with mirrors, and tables;

Photos of chair and settee frames, possibly Theisinger

Folder 7: anonymous, four photos of wardrobes

Folder 8: anonymous, photos: 3 bookcases, 3 secretaries

Folder 9: anonymous: two photos of desk/bookcase

Folder 10: anonymous: two photos of cylinder desk, one with it closed and the other with it open

Folder 11: anonymous: two bookcases

Folder 12: anonymous: four photos of wardrobes, two with sizes and prices

Folder 13: anonymous: 7 bedsteads

Folder 14: anonymous: 8 bedsteads

Folder 15: anonymous: 7 bedsteads on 6 cards

Folder 16: anonymous: 5 bedsteads, including spool beds

Folder 17: photos: bureau with mirror, wardrobe, davenport desk, side chair and arm chair

Folder 18: Sugg & Beiersdorf, Chicago, circa 1875, broadside advertising bedsteads, cradles, tables, etageres, towel racks, and hall trees

NOTE: ask for assistance to open; item is in poor condition

Folder 19: attributed to J. Theisinger, “drawing book” with pasted photos of stool, chair, and settee frames

(“drawing book” is printed on the front cover, but the item contains only photos, no drawings)

Box 3:

Folder 1: anonymous, 7 photos of bedsteads and bedroom suites (bureaus, washstands)

Folder 2: anonymous, 6 photos of bedsteads and bedroom suites (bureaus, washstands)

Folder 3: anonymous, 6 photos of bedsteads and bureaus

Folder 4: 6 photos of mirror frames for bureaus; two photos of cradles or cribs

Folder 5: photos: tables without tops; two wardrobes; hall tree; two fall front desks

Folder 6: photos: 3 parlor suites (arm chair, settee, side chairs); one single chair; parlor suites are priced

Folder 7: photos: 3 bedsteads; two sets of bureaus and washstands

Folder 8: photos: two hall trees; four parlor suites (just frames for three suites)

Folder 9: photos: three photos, each depicting two pie safes

Folder 10: photos: six bedsteads

Folder 11: photos: five bedsteads

Folder 12: photos: two wardrobes; two bureau/washstand sets

Folder 13: anonymous, Holabird, Moore & Marcy?: photos: wardrobe, three bedsteads, four washstands, four bureaus with mirrors (one marked S B & Co.)

Box 4:

Folder 1: J. W. Hamburger, New York: illustrated ad for parlor suites

Folder 2: John K. Coolidge & Co., Cincinnati: photos: four bedsteads; one sheet depicting 6 bedsteads, a child’s(?) bed, a wardrobe, and a bureau with mirror

Folder 3: Hall & Conkling, Cincinnati: one photo: 4 views of a sofa which converts to a bed (completely folded, side view, opened as a bed, arranged as a sofa)

Folder 4: Barrett, Dole & Co. (1875), T.H. Anderson & Co., Sheboygan Manufacturing Co.: sheet depicting factory and chairs made by Sheboygan;

sheet depicting chairs (including rocking chairs) and the store fronts or factories of Barrett, Dole & Co. and T. H. Anderson & Co.;

price list for rocking chairs, split and cane seat chairs, and dining chairs;

four photos of chairs, one photo of rocking chair, numbers and prices on back

Folder 5: Betts Street Furniture Co. (1870-?), Cincinnati: photo of a bedstead; three copies of the same carte-de-visite photo of a chair and rocking chair; two more bedsteads; another photo of two chairs; larger photo of two chairs, two rocking chairs

Folder 6: Cabinet Maker’s Union, Cincinnati or Indianapolis: sheet with photos of three bedsteads and four bureau/washstand sets

Folder 7: H. Berger: photos: three sets of bureaus and washstands; two bureaus

Folder 8: Greve, Buhrlage & Co.(?): two photos of sofas, one opened to be a bed

Folder 9: Miami Valley Furniture: photos: 13 bureaus with mirrors; 3 washstands

Folder 10: Miami Valley Furniture, Lawrenceburg, Indiana:

five photos with multiple images of bureaus, washstands, and tables;

Price List (three copies) and Supplemental Price List (two copies) of the Miami Valley Furniture Manufacturing Co., no date

Folder 11: Holabird & Moore, Cincinnati: 13 price lists for office and library furniture, not dated; 1 envelope

Folder 12: Holabird & Moore, Cincinnati: 5 photos: bookcase with doors, bedstead, two sheets depicting various styles of desks and bookcases, secretary with bookcase and a desk; also an envelope for Holabird, Moore & Marcy

Folder 13: Braman, Shaw & Co., Boston: two photo sheets depicting various styles of lounges, settees, rocking chairs, pulpit chairs, and side chairs

Folder 14: Chas. J. Hayden & Co., Rochester, NY: two photo sheets depicting various styles of chairs: side, rocking, office, high; also a settee and stools of varying heights

Folder 15: attributed to Holabird, Moore & Marcy: 8 photos: 2 sets of bureaus and washstands, 5 bedsteads, bookcase with glass doors

Folder 16: M.M. Murray & Co., Cincinnati: envelope;

Murray & Co., Cincinnati: printed billhead with drawings and notes about slides (for furniture?)

Folder 17: attributed to Frohmiller: 16 photos of chairs, including rocking chairs; most have cane seats and backs

Folder 18: Frohmiller & Co., Cincinnati: envelope and 3 photos: rocking chairs (one with cane seat and back), one side chair (cane seat)

Folder 19: P.J. Hardy, New York: price list for patent Oriental and library chairs, with pictures of 2 folding chairs and an upholstered chair

Folder 20: S. M. Barrett (possibly of Sheboygan): sheet with two photos of chairs: one labeled “shoo fly” (has cane seat and bottom) and the other an office or library chair labeled “Victor”

Folder 21: possibly Duchscher & Mishel: 4 photos of wardrobes

Folder 22: Duchscher & Mishel: 2 photos of wardrobes

Folder 23: anonymous, but possibly Dobell: photo of a desk

Folder 24: S.M. Barrett: photo sheet of office chairs, many made to swivel and recline

Folder 25: Holabird & Moore, Cincinnati: 9 photos of desks, secretaries, and a book case

Folder 26: Bierbaum & Co., Cincinnati: 4 photos: bureau with mirror, 2 bedsteads, washstand and bureau

Folder 27: Hutchinson Bros., Milton, Mass.: price list for hat trees, hat hangers, towel stands, piano stool frames, umbrella stands, whatnots, desks, and music whatnot; photo sheet depicting items listed on price list

Folder 28: Edwin Bishop Dobell, Lawrenceburgh, Ind.: price list (not dated); two photo cards depicting various furniture forms: bureaus, side tables, wardrobes, desks, cribs, bedsteads

Folder 29: Buck & Co., Cincinnati: envelope, 2 price lists for chairs, both dated Feb. 15, 1873; three photos of chairs, including rocking chairs (2 chairs per photo); folded sheet of 8 photos of chairs (2 chairs in 7 of the photos), including rocking chairs

Box 5:

Folder 1: anonymous drawings: bedsteads

Folder 2: anonymous drawings: wardrobes, mirror frame for bureau, bedsteads (mostly showing just the headboards), tops of sideboards (or possibly overmantels); most pieces to be made from walnut, ash, or mahogany

Folder 3: anonymous: 5 carte-de-visite photos, 2 with drawings on back, depicting washstand, hall trees, bureaus; three photos were taken in Louisville, Kentucky

Folder 4: photos: two identical chairs, possibly Waters & Barnett

Folder 5: photos: three chairs and a high chair, with prices on back; chairs were photographed on top of a quilt

Folder 6: photos: four side tables

Folder 7: photos:

5 photos of side and rocking chairs, numbered 1-9, 11-12, 20-27, and one chair not numbered but labeled “office”; four chairs in each photo;

A photo of folding chairs: one child’s, one misses, and a chair shown in folded position;

Photo of desk and washstand;

Photo of toy carriages, labeled on back as being parlor express, rough & ready cart, doll gig, and parlor cart;

Two photos of bedsteads;

Two photos of chairs, several with cane seats and backs, including rocking chairs; one photo taken in Cincinnati

Folder 8: photos: one crib, a washstand, two bureaus with mirrors

Folder 9: photo: circular dado cutter;

Six photos of bedsteads (all six taken against same background)

Folder 10: 9 faded photos: bedroom suites; hall trees; bureaus and side tables; wardrobes (one possibly a book case with doors); crib or infant bed

Folder 11: 5 photos: crest carvings, bed-lounges, spring mattress

Folder 12: 7 photos of chairs, maker anonymous; one photo shows man in a reclining office chair with cane seat and back; several photos of rocking chairs; upholstered reclining chair on wheels

Folder 13: four photos: one washstand, three bureaus with mirrors, by anonymous makers

Folder 14: four photos: bureau with mirror, bedstead, chair with cane seat, rocking chair with cane seat and back

Folder 15: 6 photos: 4 of bureaus, 2 of bureaus and washstands; anonymous makers

Folder 16: 3 photos: wardrobes, anonymous makers

Folder 17: 4 photos: side tables, anonymous makers

Folder 18: 4 photos: wardrobe; washstand and bureau with mirror; two sideboards; bedstead

Folder 19: two photos: bedstead with side tables and high chair; bedstead by itself, possibly by H.N. Wenning

Folder 20: 6 photos, most with catalog pages on back: bureau with mirror (on back: 2 desks); 4 bedsteads (on back of one: rail desk and parlor desk; on back of another: office or teacher’s desk, two office desks; on back of a third: desk with pigeon holes); wardrobe (on back: library book case); anonymous makers, but one catalog drawing signed W.T. Norman

Folder 21: 7 photos: bedsteads, one of which also includes a small washstand; anonymous makers

Folder 22: 4 photos: sideboards, all with mirrors; anonymous makers

Folder 23: 2 photos: secretary/bookcases; anonymous makers

Folder 24: 7 photos: 4 bedsteads; bureau and washstand; bureau with mirror; possibly by Haarlammert & Heller

Folder 25: 10 photos: 8 bedsteads; bedroom suite (bedstead, bureau, washstand); bureau and washstand; possibly by Haarlammert & Heller

Folder 26: 5 photos: 3 bedsteads, bureau and washstand, bureau; possibly by Haarlammert & Heller

Folder 27: 6 photos: 3 bedsteads, bureau and washstand, wardrobe with one door, bureau; possibly by Haarlammert & Heller

Folder 28: Haarlammert & Heller, Cincinnati: circular (1875) and 8 photos: 2 bedsteads, wardrobe, 5 bedroom suites (washstand, bureau, bedstead)