| TITLE
| Federal Grecian Sofa |
| CREATOR | Rawson family |
| DATE | 1820-1839 |
| DIMENSIONS | 40.25 x 89 x 23.5 in. |
| ORIGINAL FORMAT | Furniture
|
| MEDIUM | Mahogany wood and fabric |
| PHYSICAL NOTE | Arch back with leaf carved rams horn terminals, cornucopia shaped pillow roll arms, half round molded skirt, block and half round leg blocks, fruit and cornucopia carved legs terminating in carved flaring paw feet |
| DONOR | Mrs. G. Granville Benedict |
| DATE OF ACCESSION | 1979
|
| LOCATION | Providence Athenæum
: Reading Room |
In the late eighteenth century, Europe and America experienced a revived interest in Greco-Roman antiquities, resulting in the popularity of the Federal style in the United States. The style was applied to architecture, furniture, and other decorative arts into the early nineteenth century. The Athenæum’s Federal-style Grecian sofa was recently attributed to Providence furniture makers Samuel & Joseph Rawson Jr., who produced furniture in the 1820s-1830s.
The sofa originally belonged to the Honorable John Pitman, a prominent political figure in Rhode Island who served as United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island from 1821-1824. Pitman was also an owner of one of the Athenæum’s original shares, and served as President of the Board of Directors from 1836-1856. The sofa is signed by N. David Scotti, a Rhode Island auctioneer, and was donated to the library in 1979 by Mrs. G. Granville Benedict.