Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. Publication date 2005 collection americana language english. It presents a catalogue of the documented oeuvre of john townsend 17331809, the great newport cabinetmaker, and describes the community of skilled makers in which he worked. Profusely illustrated and painstakingly researched, this is essential for all newport furniture enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the great man approach is apropos for the study of john townsend 17331809 of newport, rhode island, who manufactured a largely homogenous body of outstanding material in a small community and who took the time and trouble to label or otherwise identify much of his furniture as the product of his own eye, hand, and mind. The townsend and goddard families, who dominated newport, rhode island, cabinetmaking in the mideighteenth century, are credited with having developed the newport blockandshell form, distinguished by bold blocking capped by convex and concave shells. Furniture historian margaretta lovell argues that labelsnotably those of newport cabinetmaker john townsendpromoted the essentials of an artisans business. Christophers son john townsend 17321809, recognized as one of the outstanding craftsmen of the group, was held by the british for several weeks in 1777 and is believed to have worked in connecticut after his release, returning to newport in 1782. See laura beach, redwood library acquires day book of newport cabinetmaker, antiques and the arts weekly, oct. During the second half of the 18th century, the new england seaport of newport, rhode. Preeminent among these stellar cabinetmakers was john townsend 17331809, whose meticulous. Preeminent among these stellar cabinetmakers was john townsend. It was four times the price tag for a louis xvi table that belonged to marie antoinette. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids.
This book is the first new book on the market since michael mosess 1984 classic, master craftsmen of newport. Bibliographic record and links to related information available from the library of congress catalog. Townsend family, american cabinetmakers working in newport, rhode island, during. American studio furniture 1940 1990, museum of fine arts. Rhode island furniture, 16501830 at the yale university art gallery 2016. The metropolitan museum of art will celebrate his pivotal role in the history of american furniture this spring with john townsend. Jobs daughter married john goddard, then his apprentice and the first of the. This lavishly photographed book is a summary of all the currently known and likely works by john townsend and his shop in newport in the late 18th century. Preeminent among these stellar cabinetmakers was john townsend 17331809, whose meticulous craftsmanship and elegant designs set a standard that was seldom matched. There is also anothe book on the townsend and goddards cant remember the name that is quite expensive and may be on reserve at a local library. Documented newport cabinetmakers, joiners, and chairmakers from garrett, antiques, june 1958 and bjerkoe, the cabinetmakers of america, 1957 with additions and corrections. Newport cabinetmaker, metropolitan museum of art, new york,ny john cederquist shown as a contemporary comparison to townsends work 2004 right at home. The second generation of newport cabinetmakers from these families are perhaps the. John townsend rare cabinet auctions at christies american.
Newport cabinetmaker at the metropolitan museum of art 2005 and art and industry in early america. John townsend rare cabinet auctions at christies american furniture sale. John townsend 17321809 was the son of christopher townsend and patience. The first portion of the book details the history of newport, with an emphasis on how it turned into a great cabinetmaking city. The book opens with an overview of newport and a discussion of other important cabinetmakers, including job. John townsend 17331809 is one of the most revered cabinetmakers of coloni. American studio furniture, renwick gallery, washington d. John townsend an eighteenthcentury cabinetmaker jstor.
Newport furniture is perennially popular with collectors and craftsmen. The imposing structure on newports bellevue avenue claims many firsts, among them the first lending library in the united states and the first example of public palladian architecture. Pieces have been included in major loan exhibitions, including john townsend. Bergner also noted that the subject of his sketch was bought in 1928, resold the same year and shipped to boston. George washington was a teenager when the redwood library was completed in 1750. This handsome and generously illustrated bookthe first publication ever devoted to townsendlooks at the life and legacy of this extraordinary cabinetmaker. For more information about the social and architectural history of the newport mansions, the preservation society of newport county suggests the following readings.
It has received little or no attention until recently. John townsend, newport cabinetmaker complements the exhibition of his furniture held at the metropolitan museum of art in 2005. Redwood library acquires day book of newport cabinetmaker. This handsome and generously illustrated book the first publication ever devoted to townsend looks at the life and legacy of this extraordinary cabinetmaker. Metpublications is a portal to the mets comprehensive book and online publishing program with close to 700 titles published from 1964 to the present. It is the catalogue associated with the 2005 exhibit of john townsends works at the metropolitan museum of art in new york in 2005. On the fifteenth day of the third month, one thousand eight hundred and two, phila townsend, wife of john townsend, died at their house on eastons point8 and seven years later, march i2, i809, the newspaper announced lic record reveals anything of the personality of john townsend. One of only six cabinets of its kind signed by furniture maker john townsend is selling this month.
Newport cabinetmaker metropolitan museum of art publications by morrison h. Paleontological research institution, c2017, also ed. Heckscher, john townsend newport cabinetmakernew york, 2005, pp. Townsends accomplishments have now been chronicled in a work as fastidiously crafted as his own. John townsend newport cabinetmaker free ebook download as pdf file.
Goddard and townsend goddard family graphite high chest identi. It offers a catalogue of the documented oeuvre of john townsend 17331809, the great newport cabinetmaker, and describes the community of skilled makers in which he worked. The book opens with an overview of newport and a discussion of other important cabinetmakers, including job and christopher townsend, john s father and uncle. In every ordinary sense john townsend, like virtually all eighteenth century american craftsmen, lived his life below the level of historical scrutiny, writes morrison h. During the second half of the 18th century, the new england seaport of newport, rhode island, became a leading center of american furnituremaking, with members of the townsend and goddard families dominating the trade. I am excited about a piece of furniture i have seen in a book john townsend newport cabinetmaker from the metropolitan museum of art. Newport cabinetmaker is a landmark presentation of a supreme cabinetmaker. With other seemingly early blockandshell forms dated variously in the literature, this document cabinet may yet still prove to be the first fullblown execution of this celebrated newport design morrison h. Townsend family, american cabinetmakers working in newport, rhode island, during the 17th and 18th centuries and forming with the goddard family the goddardtownsend group, known for case furniture characterized by block fronts and decorative carved shell motifs, frequently in the graceful and ornate style developed by the english cabinetmaker.
The exhibition that accompanied that book assembled for the first time nearly all of the known works. Morrison heckscher recently countered that townsends labels primarily served to establish his legacy in a very selfconscious manner. Newport cabinetmaker, on view in the american wing of the metropolitan museum of art through september 25. The upholstery and chairmaking trades of eighteenth. The exceptional arnoldwicks family queen anne shellcarved and figured mahogany high chest of drawers with open talons, made by john townsend, newport, rhode island, dated est. The landmark reference on the life and work of john townsend and the companion book to the 2005 john townsend show at the mma. For the opportunity to do an exhibition and book on john townsend i am. Documented newport cabinetmakers, joiners, and chairmakers. John townsend colonial cabinets of newport youtube. Until then, no other piece of furniture had sold for anything near that price. John townsend was one townsend of the three brothers of that family who settled on the westerly end of long island some few years before 1643 the year governor kieft gave a patent for the town of flushing to john townsend and others. Newport chest of drawers newport historical society newport chest of drawers chest of drawers, c. Chuck phillipsas a firstyear student at the furniture institute of massachusetts, phillips was inspired by a visit to the john townsend exhibit. His elegant and restrained furniture was constructed from.