Duncan Phyfe - The Man, The Style
The term, "Duncan Phyfe style," is often thrown around in the furniture business. Like many terms, the meaning of "Duncan Phyfe style" has evolved over the years so that it has become perfectly acceptable to describe most simple double pedestal dining tables and dining chairs that match with splay or reeded legs and lyre or harp designs. While many purists may argue that furniture pieces made by Duncan Phyfe are considered adaptations of styles rather than a style itself, I feel the term has become used commonly enough to be considered a style. And besides, aren't all styles really just adaptations of what came before with new elements introduced?
Duncan Phfye was born in Scotland in 1768 and lived a relatively long life, passing away in 1854. At the age of 16 he emigrated to the U.S. and settled in New York. In 1794—at just 26 years old—he started his furniture making business in New York City. Mr. Phyfe quickly became one of the most renowned American cabinetmakers of all time. His store was known for quality furniture at relatively low prices. In the early years, the furniture was made solely from imported mahogany and sometimes emphasized with beautiful veneers. After 1830 his works were done primarily of rosewood. Duncan Phyfe was also responsible for introducing the factory method of making furniture to the American cabinetmaker industry.
The styles of his time heavily influenced his work. The styles that can be seen in original Duncan Phyfe furniture include Empire, Sheraton, French Classical, and most prominently Regency. More than any other decoration, Duncan incorporated carved lyres or harps the most into his pieces. Almost all of his legs were splay, reeded legs that ended in brass claws. The pulls and hardware were usually brass but he also used glass later in his career. Furniture pieces that were actually made by Duncan Phyfe are almost impossible to identify as he almost never labelled his furniture. There are a few pieces in museums and even something in the White House that have been proven made by him, but not many. Nevertheless, Duncan Phyfe certainly left his mark on American furniture and had a taste that even today people consider beautiful and elegant.
