Rocking Chair, Owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1865-1875
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Artifact Overview
This chair, made of tree roots and branches, was once owned by one of the richest men in 19th century America. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), the founder of shipping and railroad dynasties, may have used this chair on his porch, in a gazebo, or other garden structure at his Staten Island, New York, home. Many well-to-do Victorians admired rustic furniture that celebrated nature.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Rocking chair
Date Made
1865-1875
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Attributed to a maker from New York.
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Fully Furnished
Object ID
88.247.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Oak (Wood)
Bark (Plant material)
Color
Brown
Dimensions
Height: 40.75 in
Width: 25 in
Length: 37 in
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Related Content
SetThe Ubiquitous American Porch
- 13 Artifacts
Porches were once a pervasive feature of American homes, commercial buildings, and summer resorts. They evolved from many antecedents in different nations and cultures. A transitional space between outdoors and indoors, the porch could be a place to cool off, watch others, relax, show off, and socialize. Porches experienced a decline in the mid-20th century, with automobiles and air conditioning.