The
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: Obbard, John.
Title: John Obbard furniture
research papers
Dates: ca.1995-2001
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 09x68, 10x103
Quantity: 19 boxes (7 linear feet)
Location: 10 H 5-6 and I 8
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
John W. Obbard was a collector of early American
furniture. He wrote two books: Early American Furniture: A Practical Guide
for Collectors, published in 2000, and Early
American Furniture: A Guide to Who, When and Where, published in 2006. John and his twin brother Peter were born on August
31, 1931, sons of Norman and Doris Obbard.
He grew up in
John developed an interest in antique furniture after
moving to
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
The collection contains materials which John Obbard
amassed for his books on early American furniture, including a picture archive
of materials from auction catalogs and antiques advertisements, drafts of his
first book Early American Furniture: A
Practical Guide for Collectors (under the working title “A Guide to
Collecting American Period Furniture”), and drawings for both of John Obbard’s
books, which were executed by Brenda Bechtel.
As well, there is some correspondence with publishers and some Obbard
family material. The picture archive is arranged by furniture
type (chairs, chests, tables, etc.), and then further broken down by region:
ORGANIZATION
Book drafts, notes, illustrations, and other papers are
in Series I. The picture archive,
arranged by type of furniture and then by region, is in Series II.
The original drawings which came in accession 10x103
have been interfiled with the appropriate folders holding notes and drawings
for Books I and II. Original material
from accession 10x103 is in separate folders.
Folders with materials from both accessions are marked with both
numbers.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Both accessions: Gift of Evie (Mrs. John) Obbard.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Bechtel, Brenda.
Obbard family.
Topics:
Furniture, American.
Furniture,
Colonial.
Furniture –
Federal period.
Furniture –
Furniture –
Furniture – Southern States.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 10 H 5-6 and I 8
Series I:
Folders 1-4: “A
Guide to Collecting American Period Furniture”: typescript
Folder 1: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 1: “The Furniture Trade”: drawings
and notes
Folder 2: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 2: “Understanding Period and
Style”: drawings and notes
Folders 3-4: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 5: “Identifying Period
Workmanship”: drawings and notes
Folder 5: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 6: “
Folder 6: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 8: “Cabinetmaker’s Chairs”: drawings
and notes
Folder 7: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 9: “Turner’s Chairs”: drawings
and notes
Folder 8: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 10: “Windsor Chairs” drawings
and notes
Folder 9: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 11: “Wing Chairs and Sofas”:
drawings and notes
Folder 10: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 12: “Chests and Blanket
Chests”: drawings and notes
Folder 11: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 13: “Chests of Drawers”: drawings
and notes
Folder 1: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 14: “Desks and Secretaries”:
drawings and notes
Folder 2: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 15: “Highboys, Lowboys,
Presses, and Dressing Tables”: drawings and notes
Folder 3: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 16: “Sideboards and
Cupboards”: drawings and notes
Folder 4: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 17: “Dining and Side
Tables”: drawings and notes
Folder 5: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 18: “Tea and Cards Tables”: drawings
and notes
Folder 6: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 19: “Candlestands and Sewing
Tables”: drawings and notes
Folder 7: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 20: “Beds”: drawings and
notes
Folder 8: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 21: Mirrors”: drawings and
notes
Folder 9: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 22: “Clocks and Barometers”:
drawings and notes
Folder 10: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 23: “Shaker Furniture”: drawings
and notes
Folder 11: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 24: “Miscellaneous Small
Furniture”: drawings and notes
Folder 12: Early
American Furniture: A Practical Guide: chapter 26: Clean-up and Repair”: drawings
and notes
Folder 13: Book I: additional illustrations [for Early American Furniture: A Practical Guide]
(acc. 10x103)
Folder 14: Book I: unused illustrations [for Early American Furniture: A Practical Guide]
(acc. 10x103)
Folder 15: Drawings 1-4 [for book II: Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapters 1-4]
Folder 16: Drawings 5 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 5: Framed chairs]
Folder 1: Drawings 6 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 6: Turned chairs]
Folder 2: Drawings 7 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 7:
Folder 3: Drawings 8 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 8: Upholstered chairs]
Folder 4: Drawings 9 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 9: Sofas]
Folder 5: Drawings 10 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 10: Chests and Chests over drawers]
Folder 6: Drawings 11 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 11: Chests of drawers]
Folder 7: Drawings 12 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 12: High chests of drawers and Dressing tables]
Folder 8: Drawings 13 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 13: Desks and Desk and bookcases]
Folder 9: Drawings 14 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 14: Sideboards and serving tables]
Folder 10: Drawings 15 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 15: Cupboards and Wardrobes]
Folder 11: Drawings 16 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 16: Dining and breakfast tables]
Folder 12: Drawings 17 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 17: Tea tables]
Folder 13: Drawings 18 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 18: Card tables]
Folder 14: Drawings 19 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 19: Candle stands, Light stands, Worktables]
Folder 1: Drawings 20 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 20: Tavern and farm tables]
Folder 2: Drawings 21 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 21: Daybeds and bedsteads]
Folder 3: Drawings 22 [for book II, Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where, chapter 22: Miscellaneous regional furniture]
Folder 4: Maps
Folder 5: Obbard
antiques collection (acc. 10x103)
Folder 6: Obbard
family (acc. 10x103)
Folder 7: Porcelain,
metalware (acc. 10x103)
Folder 8: Publishers:
Book I: correspondence (acc. 10x103)
[Early American Furniture: A Practical Guide
for Collectors]
Folder 1: Publishers:
Book II: correspondence (acc. 10x103)
[Early American Furniture: A Guide to Who,
When, and Where]
Folder 2: Publishers:
Book II: cover letter and pitch (acc. 10x103)
Folder 3: Publishers:
Book II: illustrations for proposal (acc. 10x103)
Folder 4: Publishers:
Book II: marketing (acc. 10x103)
Folder 5: Publishers:
Book III: correspondence (acc. 10x103)
[this
book was not published]
Folder 6: Reference
material (acc. 10x103)
Folder 7:
[furniture of southeastern
Folder 8:
[furniture of southeastern
Massachusetts] (acc. 10x103)
Folder 9: Writing
workshop (acc. 10x103)
Series II:
Picture Archive
Folder 10: Furniture:
Bedsteads:
Folder 11: Furniture:
Bedsteads: Middle Atlantic and Southern
Folder 12: Furniture:
Canadian
Folder 1: Furniture:
Chests and Chests over drawers:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Chests and Chests over drawers: Middle Atlantic and Southern
Folder 3: Furniture:
Chests and Chests over drawers: illustrations
Folder 4: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 5: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 1: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 3: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 4: Furniture:
Chests of drawers: Middle Atlantic
Folder 5: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 6: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 7: Furniture:
Chests of drawers:
Folder 8: Furniture:
Chests of drawers: Southern
Folder 9: Furniture:
Chests of drawers: illustrations
Folder 1: Furniture:
Chairs: construction
Folder 2: Furniture:
Chairs: Jacobean and William and Mary styles
Folder 3: Furniture:
Chairs: Queen Anne style
Folder 4: Furniture:
Chairs: Chippendale style:
Folder 5: Furniture:
Chairs: Chippendale style: other states, and ladderback chairs
Folder 6: Furniture:
Chairs: Federal style:
Folder 7: Furniture:
Chairs: Federal style:
Folder 8: Furniture:
Chairs: Federal style: other states
Folder 9: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs
Folder 10: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs: illustrations
Folder 1: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs: ladderback and corner chairs
Folder 2: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs: Cromwell and Queen Anne
Folder 3: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs: Queen Anne and Chippendale
Folder 4: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs: Chippendale
Folder 5: Furniture:
Chairs: cabinetmakers’ chairs: Federal
Folder 6: Furniture:
Chairs:
Folder 7: Furniture:
Chairs: corner chairs
Folder 8: Furniture:
Chairs: fancy chairs
Folder 9: Furniture:
Chairs: framed chairs:
Folder 10: Furniture:
Chairs: framed chairs: Middle Atlantic and Southern
Folder 11: Furniture:
Chairs: turned chairs:
Folder 12: Furniture:
Chairs: turned chairs: Middle Atlantic and Southern
Folder 13: Furniture:
Chairs: turned chairs: illustrations
Folder 14: Furniture:
Chairs: Easy chairs, upholstered chairs:
Folder 1: Furniture:
Chairs: Easy chairs, upholstered chairs: Middle Atlantic and Southern
Folder 2: Furniture:
Chairs: Easy chairs, upholstered chairs: illustrations
Folder 3: Furniture:
Chairs:
Folder 4: Furniture:
Chairs:
Folder 5: Furniture:
Chairs:
Folder 6: Furniture:
Chairs:
Folder 7: Furniture:
Chairs:
Folder 8: Furniture:
Clocks and barometers
Folder 9: Furniture:
Cupboards:
Folder 10: Furniture:
Cupboards: Middle
Folder 1: Furniture:
Cupboards: Middle Atlantic:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Cupboards: Southern
Folder 3: Furniture:
Cupboards: illustrations
Folder 4: Furniture:
Daybeds
Folder 5: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries:
Folder 6: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries:
Folder 7: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries: New England:
Folder 1: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries: Middle Atlantic
Folder 2: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries: Secretaries
Folder 3: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries: illustrations
Folder 4: Furniture:
Desks and secretaries: butler and cylinder desks
Folder 5: Furniture:
English: case furniture
Folder 6: Furniture:
English: chairs and sofas/settees
Folder 7: Furniture:
English: tables and miscellaneous pieces
Folder 8: Furniture:
Foreign (non-English, non-Canadian)
Folder 9: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys:
Folder 10: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys:
Folder 11: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys: New England:
Folder 1: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys: New England:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys: Middle Atlantic and Southern
Folder 3: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys: Middle Atlantic:
Folder 4: Furniture:
Highboys and lowboys: illustrations
Folder 5: Furniture:
Mirrors (American and English)
Folder 6: Furniture: miscellaneous pieces:
cabinets, small chests, storage boxes, Bible box; bookcases; bottle cases and
cellarettes; Canterburys; chair tables; children’s and baby furniture;
commodes; dressing mirrors; etageres; fire screens; globes; knife boxes and
urns; hanging wall cupboards; hutch tables
Folder 7: Furniture: miscellaneous pieces:
miniatures; miscellaneous items; pianos and pianofortes; pipe boxes; settles,
benches; spice boxes; stools; sugar chests; table top desks; tea caddies
(American); wall shelves; wash stands
Folder 8: Furniture:
miscellaneous pieces: illustrations
Folder 1: Furniture:
Settees, sofas, couches:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Settees, sofas, couches: Middle Atlantic
Folder 3: Furniture:
Settees, sofas, couches: Southern
Folder 4: Furniture:
Settees, sofas, couches: camelback sofas; and illustrations
Folder 5: Furniture:
Shaker
Folder 6: Furniture:
Shaker: auction catalogs
Folder 7: Furniture:
Sideboards and serving tables:
Folder 8: Furniture:
Sideboards and serving tables: New England:
Folder 9: Furniture:
Sideboards and serving tables: Middle Atlantic
Folder 10: Furniture:
Sideboards and serving tables: Southern
Folder 11: Furniture:
Sideboards and serving tables: illustrations
Folder 1: Furniture:
Tables: Breakfast:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Tables: Breakfast: Middle
Folder 3: Furniture:
Tables: Breakfast: Southern
Folder 4: Furniture:
Tables: Bureau and chamber
Folder 5: Furniture:
Tables: Card:
Folder 6: Furniture:
Tables: Card:
Folders 7-8: Furniture:
Tables: Card: New England:
Folder 1: Furniture:
Tables: Card: Middle
Folder 2: Furniture:
Tables: Card: Middle Atlantic:
Folder 3: Furniture:
Tables: Card: Southern
Folder 4: Furniture:
Tables: Card: illustrations
Folder 5: Furniture:
Tables: Dining:
Folder 6: Furniture:
Tables: Dining: New England:
Folder 7: Furniture:
Tables: Dining: Middle
Folder 8: Furniture:
Tables: Dining: Southern
Folder 9: Furniture:
Tables: Dining and Breakfast: illustrations
Folder 10: Furniture:
Tables: Stands:
Folder 1: Furniture:
Tables: Stands: New England:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Tables: Stands: New England:
Folder 3: Furniture: Tables: Stands: New England:
Folder 4: Furniture:
Tables: Stands: Middle Atlantic and
Folder 5: Furniture:
Tables: Stands: Middle Atlantic:
Folder 6: Furniture:
Tables: Stands: Southern
Folder 7: Furniture:
Tables: Stands and Work tables: illustrations
Folder 8: Furniture:
Tables: Tavern and kitchen:
Folder 9: Furniture:
Tables: Tavern and kitchen: Middle Atlantic
Folder 10: Furniture:
Tables: Tavern and kitchen: Southern
Folder 11: Furniture:
Tables: Tavern and kitchen: illustrations
Folder 1: Furniture:
Tables: Tea:
Folder 2: Furniture:
Tables: Tea: New England:
Folder 3: Furniture:
Tables: Tea:
Folder 4: Furniture:
Tables: Tea: Middle
Folder 5: Furniture:
Tables: Tea: Southern
Folder 6: Furniture:
Tables: Tea: illustrations
Folder 7: Furniture:
Tables: Work and sewing tables:
Folder 8: Furniture:
Tables: Work and sewing tables: Middle Atlantic
Folder 9: Furniture:
Tables: Work and sewing tables: Southern
Folder 10: Furniture:
Tables: other forms
Folder 11: Furniture:
Wardrobes and armoires