Neoclassical sofa,

ca. 1830

This elegant sofa and pair of chairs were likely produced in Philadelphia around 1830, by a maker with a Germanic background. Their design exemplifies the second, monumental phase of Empire period furniture (ca. 1815–40), characterized by large, solid forms, compartmentalized decoration, a mix of curvilinear and rectilinear components, and frequent use of light-colored wood—a hallmark of furniture produced around the same time in Germanic regions from Scandinavia to Austria, known as Biedermeier. The pieces are constructed of curly maple, typical of Philadelphia neoclassical furniture after 1830, when the popularity of local types of wood—over dark imported mahogany—substantially increased.