Duncan Phyfe was arguably the greatest early American cabinetmaker — and undoubtedly the most prominent. In his long tenure as the furniture provider of choice to wealthy and fashionable New Yorkers, Phyfe promoted a unique interpretation of the neoclassical style that set a standard for elegance and taste that remains influential in the United States to this day.
Born Duncan Fife, he immigrated with his family from Scotland to Albany, New York, in 1784. Precisely where Phyfe received his training in woodworking and joinery remains unclear, but by 1794 he had moved to New York City, married, made the distinctive change in the spelling of his family name and established a cabinetmaking workshop and showroom in lower Manhattan.
Phyfe likely drew inspiration for his wares from the designs published in pattern books by Georgian-era English furniture makers like Thomas Sheraton. To these, Phyfe added his own variations on carved details that referenced antiquity: lyres, fasces, paw-shaped feet, fluted column-like legs and curved or scrolled armrests. The elegant neoclassical aesthetic helped shape the unformed tastes of clients like fur trader and landowner John Jacob Astor, whose patronage drew other members of the city’s growing merchant class to Phyfe’s door. By the early 1800s, Phyfe had a skilled workforce of more than 100 craftsmen.
Phyfe would dabble in several other furniture styles such as Empire, Rococo and Gothic Revival — and became a noted Federal-style designer — as decorating trends came and went, but neoclassicism remained the keynote of his work. Assisted by his sons, Phyfe stayed in business until 1847 and retired as one of the richest men in the city. He seldom applied a label or maker’s mark to his workshop’s creations, perhaps believing his signature style and outstanding craftsmanship spoke for themselves.
Despite his company’s large output, relatively few pieces can be conclusively ascribed to Phyfe, and most of those are in museums. A popular 1922 exhibition of Phyfe’s work at the Metropolitan Museum in New York revived interest in his work and made his name a byword for fine American antique furniture. As a consequence, Phyfe attributions abound in stores and galleries.
Collectors are advised to buy only from the most reputable dealers and to display that purchase proudly if you do. Furniture by Duncan Phyfe is a true national treasure.Find antique Duncan Phyfe furniture on 1stDibs.
Late 20th C. Duncan Phyfe Regency Empire Style Hairy Paw Feet Brass Lyre Bench
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Late 20th C. Duncan Phyfe Regency Empire Style Hairy Paw Feet Brass Lyre Bench. Item features brass "lyre" accents, carved hairy paw feet, solid wood co...
Brass
$636Sale Price / set|28% Off
H 33.5 in W 19 in D 17 in
Vintage Italian Duncan Phyfe Style Dining Chairs, Set of 5
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Set of 5 Vintage Italian Provincial...
Wood
Black Iron Lyre-Back Bench or Settee, Brass Swan Heads & Paw Feet
By Samuel Copelon
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rarely Seen vintage black wrought iron and brass lyre-back with swan heads and paw feet bench or settee with upholstered stripe seat cushion and two bol...
Brass, Wrought Iron
20th Century Black Ebonized Empire Style Swan Bench
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century Empire style bench featuring Neoclassical style carved swan frame newly padded and upholstered in a Chanel style chuncky tweed.
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th century hand carved teak decorator bench.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a late 20th century handcrafted teak decorator bench. This bench has a hand carved X design to the back with a soft curved arm. This long bench has a highly polished Amber to...
Wood
Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Sofa
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Trenton, NJ
nfuse your home with timeless sophistication with this Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Sofa. Its ebonized wood frame features exquisite carvings that highlight the skill and craftsmanship...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,595
H 22 in W 43.5 in D 17 in
Late 20th Century Provincial Style Fruitwood and Caned Seat Upholstered Bench
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 20th Century French Provincial style two-Seater Bench featuring a medium-tone Fruitwood frame with carved patterns and Cane seat with a button-tufted cushion in light pink uph...
Cane, Fruitwood
Late 20th Century Modern Italian Iron and Upholstered Bench
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 20th Century Modern Italian Iron and Upholstered Bench in good vintage condition. Measures 31" in width, 13" in depth and 24" in height. Seat height is 19".
Iron
Late 19th/ Early 20th Century Rustic Northern Chinese Country Bench
Located in Wainscott, NY
This late 19th / early 20th Century rustic wooden bench likely originated from Northern China. This primitive wooden bench or narrow console table has a single plank top and angled ...
Wood, Elm
$995 / set
H 34 in W 22 in D 19.5 in
Pair of Early 20th Century Duncan Phyfe Style Mahogany & Upholstered Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Early 20th Century Duncan Phyfe Style Mahogany and Upholstered Side Chairs Dimensions: 19.5" in width and 22" in depth and 34" in height. Seat height is 18"
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 20th century hand forged iron and brass upholstered bench
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a hand forged wrought iron and brass newly upholstered bench. The bench features a handwrought iron frame with a rope design on the edges. The wrought iron bench has beautifu...
Metal
Beautiful antique Empire bench, oak 20th century.
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful antique Empire bench, oak 20th century. Solid wood, hand-carved oak, conical, tapered legs connected with intermediate struts. Seat pa...
Fabric, Upholstery, Oak
Early 20th Century Regency inspired newly upholstered bench
Located in Allentown, PA
This is an early 20th century newly upholstered Regency inspired bench. This bench has beautifully carved Regency inspired details on the side rails with his original brass casters. ...
Mahogany
Ernest Hagen Sheraton Duncan Phyfe Style Chair, circa 1895
By Ernest F. Hagen, Duncan Phyfe
Located in Houston, TX
Constructed of select mahogany in traditional benchmade manner with branch leaf crest rail, curule form splat, turned reeded and carved stiles, acanthus carved posts, having balloon ...
Mahogany