New-York tribune., 1922-10-15
Metropolitan
To Show Pllyfe
Cabinet York
Private View Tomorrow
Will Open Choicest Ex-
saxbit of Designers Art
Ever Collected in N. Y.
Many ersRepresented
Group of 100 Specimens To
Be Displayed TO Public
From Tuesday 10 Dec. Is

Furniture by Duncan Phyfe, Full
TON Street cabinetmaker, whose pro-
aaetions of the early nineteenth CEN
tury, hold special artistic significance
to.day constitutes brilliant loan ex-
hibition at the Metropolitan Muses.
~ Art. which is TO be inaugurated to-
norrow with a private view and recep-
sion Commencing Tuesday, the eshi.
ALTON. which utilizes the whole of the
isrga gallery of special exhibitions
a,;,i he omen TO the public until Decern-
ber 10. j.
IN the Group 1t is considered the most
;nnortsnt collection OF furniture by a
.,nole American cabinetmaker ever
rstSnred here. The museum is indebt-
sd Tar the collection to a score of pri-
vs.e owners, all living within the vi
rfnity Of New York, including r. T.
Hsines Halsey, known as the largest
collector of Phyfe furniture, who was
Instrumental in prom oting the exhibi-
ton.
The gallery is divided into eight
smaller salons. each of which shows
the objects in appropriate groupings.
tracing the development Of Phyfe's art
from 1900 to 1925, the period generally
feeegHAzeu as PAouuStfYS 'ol MS pest
work.
The three traditions which inauenced 4
his work-the English Sheraton. the
French Directoire and Consulate and
the later Empire-are successfully
shown and the entire exhibition is aug
mented with paintings, decorations and
silver Of the period, adding to the ap-
propriateness of the ensemble. --' =,
Three Types Predominant
Chairs, sofas and tables, the three
furniture types in which Phyfe spe-
cislized, form the body of the exhibi-
ton, though the few small cabinets and
q single four-poster bed included have
. special interest owing to their greater
rarity. There is particularly large
array of chairs, some with the severe
and stately lines of the Sheraton pc
riod, others with the distinguishing re-
yersed curves of the Directoire. and
examples in the classic formality Of
the Empire.
There is dining table representing
Phyfe's early period, said to have been
used in his own home and undoubtedly
made by himself, as was the small
chest representing the last years of
bis life. All the productions, are of
mahogany, though one little group con-
tains card table and two sewing ta-
bles in the light hue of satinwood.
One of the most remarkable speci-
mems is said to be card table with a
draw leaf for chess and backgammon.
Another is small table rejecting the
patriotic feeling of the period follow
hg the War of 1912, the top supported
n large carved eagle surrounding
arved head of the British lion. A
ARE chair specimen has oak leaf carv-
lngs symbolical of victory.
Sofas Characteristic
The sofas are of types corresponding
to the chairs, perhaps the most charac-
teristic being of Sheraton derivation
with a wooden back rail paneled or
carved and with straight reeded legs.
One rich example of the French inau-.
ence. however, has sweeping curved
arms and supports with carved lyres
st either end. The tables are distinct
variations, there being those utilizing
the Tyre motive in the uprights, others
having twin pedestals and third type
With carved urn-shaped pedestal.
Those who lent specimens for thehex-
hibition: Mr.. and Mrs. Warren B. Ash
mead, DR.. and Mrs. l.. F. Parker, Mr..
and Mrs. Harry H. Bernhard, Mr.. and
Mrs. Allan B. A. Bradley, Henry de
Forest Baldwin, DR.. and Mrs. Arthur
VI. Bingham, Mrs. Elihu Chaurcev.