Page 33 - Antiques and Collectibles September 2019 Historic Hudson Valley
P. 33
ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK
Furniture from the Valley
T he Hudson Valley is also commonly called the Hudson River Valley making Schränke, or cabinets. Chests
because it surrounds the Hudson River. It is an area with a very rich were also popular pieces because the
German immigrants needed practical
history and historical significance. The history of European exploration
in the Hudson River Valley dates back to an expedition by John Cabot in storage options in their homes. Today,
1497. The river was named for Henry Hudson, who explored the region over many such pieces exist, but few of the
100 years later, in 1609. Throughout its history, the Hudson River Valley has surviving pieces were made by the
been well known for its original imm-igrants of the early 1700s.
rustic and natural
Most were made by American-born first
appeal. Nowhere is that or second-generation descendants. That
more evident than in makes original pieces far more valuable
some of the furniture and attractive to collectors.
that has come from the
One of the Area’s Most Famous
region over the years.
Let’s take a peek back Hudson River Valley Area
through history at those Furniture Makers
rustic furniture pieces The next major influence on furniture
and other furniture
making techniques in the Hudson River
trends that came from Valley area was Duncan Fife, who later
some of the earlier Duncan Phyfe Table
changed his name to Phyfe. He
Hudson Valley Chairs residents of the Hudson immigrated to New York City in 1784
River Valley. from Scotland. Within a decade, he had established
himself as one of the area’s leading and most distinctive
Henry Hudson and the Dutch
furniture makers.
Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch East India Phyfe’s unique pieces were known for their elegance,
Company to find a faster trade route with China. That style, and functionality. They were also constructed of
is what he was searching for when he first found himself the best possible materials, which often included rose-
in the Hudson River Valley. Although he didn’t find wood or mahogany. Today, original Duncan Phyfe
what he was looking for, he did find such an appealing furniture is still highly collectible and frequently
area that many Dutch soon followed and settled in the sought after.
region. They brought with them their furn-iture making
skills. A Spooky Twist on Historic Hudson Valley
In early 1600s North America, homes did not have Furniture
closets. Therefore, there was a need for standing In 1820, author Washington Irving created one of
storage cabinets. Several Dutch settlers in the area were the most enduring and iconic ghost stories of all time.
skilled at making those cabinets. Such a cabinet was The Legend of Sleepy Hollow described the encounter
called a “kast.” A Dutch kast often had an elaborate between school teacher Ichabod Crane and a headless
exterior with a simple interior. Later, the name was horseman. Together, they have become almost
shortened to “kas,” and today they are more commonly synonymous with
called wardrobes. Halloween in the
Some Dutch immigrant furniture makers of the Dutch Kast or Kas United States.
period clearly marked the furniture they made, but not Washington
all of them did. Even so, the style of such a piece still Irving himself resided for a time in a
survives today is like a Dutch fingerprint. It clearly indicates its area of origin. cottage he called “Sunnyside” in the
That is because the North American Dutch kast was only produced in the
Hudson River Valley. It was located in
Hudson River Valley at that time. That makes it one of the most iconic types Tarrytown, New York, which is now
of furniture to ever come out of the area. officially called Sleepy Hollow.
Washington Irving was enamored with
The German Furniture of the 1700s the early Dutch architectural and furni-
One hundred years after the Dutch ture designs of the Hudson River Valley.
immigration to the Hudson River Valley He incorporated some of those senti-
began, another major event changed the ments into the Sleepy Hollow story and
course of furniture making in the area. his other works. He also designed
19th century HRV pine hutch table
That event was the mass exodus of German Sunnyside to reflect his personal vision of
Palatines from the Rhine Valley in
Dutch Revival.
Germany. Many of them came to North The issue was Washington Irving’s vision of Dutch Revival furniture and
America and settled in the Hudson River the reality differed in several ways.
Valley working under service to England That led to distinctive furniture
until their travel debts were paid. Some pieces known as Sleepy Hollow
stayed where they settled, which is now an furn-iture today. Mr. Irving also
area called Germantown. Others eventually played a major role in the general
moved to New York City or spread out to Colonial Revival movement.
other parts of the Hudson River Valley. However, he also believed in blend-
The German immigrants consisted of ing reverence for the past with future
many furniture makers, also called joiners. growth and change.
Schränke
Some of the German joiners specialized in
18th Century German Chest
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance writer specializing in writing short articles for 15 years. She is also an avid collector of both antique books and Star Wars memorabilia. Although she is not in the antiques
industry professionally, she has learned a lot about antiques over the years by periodically helping out at her mom’s antiques shop in Greenville, NH. She currently balances maintaining the antiques shop’s
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MallofNE, and working on various freelance writing assignments. She can be reached at dementorskiss77@yahoo.com.
September 2019 31
ANTIQUES PEEK
Furniture from the Valley
T he Hudson Valley is also commonly called the Hudson River Valley making Schränke, or cabinets. Chests
because it surrounds the Hudson River. It is an area with a very rich were also popular pieces because the
German immigrants needed practical
history and historical significance. The history of European exploration
in the Hudson River Valley dates back to an expedition by John Cabot in storage options in their homes. Today,
1497. The river was named for Henry Hudson, who explored the region over many such pieces exist, but few of the
100 years later, in 1609. Throughout its history, the Hudson River Valley has surviving pieces were made by the
been well known for its original imm-igrants of the early 1700s.
rustic and natural
Most were made by American-born first
appeal. Nowhere is that or second-generation descendants. That
more evident than in makes original pieces far more valuable
some of the furniture and attractive to collectors.
that has come from the
One of the Area’s Most Famous
region over the years.
Let’s take a peek back Hudson River Valley Area
through history at those Furniture Makers
rustic furniture pieces The next major influence on furniture
and other furniture
making techniques in the Hudson River
trends that came from Valley area was Duncan Fife, who later
some of the earlier Duncan Phyfe Table
changed his name to Phyfe. He
Hudson Valley Chairs residents of the Hudson immigrated to New York City in 1784
River Valley. from Scotland. Within a decade, he had established
himself as one of the area’s leading and most distinctive
Henry Hudson and the Dutch
furniture makers.
Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch East India Phyfe’s unique pieces were known for their elegance,
Company to find a faster trade route with China. That style, and functionality. They were also constructed of
is what he was searching for when he first found himself the best possible materials, which often included rose-
in the Hudson River Valley. Although he didn’t find wood or mahogany. Today, original Duncan Phyfe
what he was looking for, he did find such an appealing furniture is still highly collectible and frequently
area that many Dutch soon followed and settled in the sought after.
region. They brought with them their furn-iture making
skills. A Spooky Twist on Historic Hudson Valley
In early 1600s North America, homes did not have Furniture
closets. Therefore, there was a need for standing In 1820, author Washington Irving created one of
storage cabinets. Several Dutch settlers in the area were the most enduring and iconic ghost stories of all time.
skilled at making those cabinets. Such a cabinet was The Legend of Sleepy Hollow described the encounter
called a “kast.” A Dutch kast often had an elaborate between school teacher Ichabod Crane and a headless
exterior with a simple interior. Later, the name was horseman. Together, they have become almost
shortened to “kas,” and today they are more commonly synonymous with
called wardrobes. Halloween in the
Some Dutch immigrant furniture makers of the Dutch Kast or Kas United States.
period clearly marked the furniture they made, but not Washington
all of them did. Even so, the style of such a piece still Irving himself resided for a time in a
survives today is like a Dutch fingerprint. It clearly indicates its area of origin. cottage he called “Sunnyside” in the
That is because the North American Dutch kast was only produced in the
Hudson River Valley. It was located in
Hudson River Valley at that time. That makes it one of the most iconic types Tarrytown, New York, which is now
of furniture to ever come out of the area. officially called Sleepy Hollow.
Washington Irving was enamored with
The German Furniture of the 1700s the early Dutch architectural and furni-
One hundred years after the Dutch ture designs of the Hudson River Valley.
immigration to the Hudson River Valley He incorporated some of those senti-
began, another major event changed the ments into the Sleepy Hollow story and
course of furniture making in the area. his other works. He also designed
19th century HRV pine hutch table
That event was the mass exodus of German Sunnyside to reflect his personal vision of
Palatines from the Rhine Valley in
Dutch Revival.
Germany. Many of them came to North The issue was Washington Irving’s vision of Dutch Revival furniture and
America and settled in the Hudson River the reality differed in several ways.
Valley working under service to England That led to distinctive furniture
until their travel debts were paid. Some pieces known as Sleepy Hollow
stayed where they settled, which is now an furn-iture today. Mr. Irving also
area called Germantown. Others eventually played a major role in the general
moved to New York City or spread out to Colonial Revival movement.
other parts of the Hudson River Valley. However, he also believed in blend-
The German immigrants consisted of ing reverence for the past with future
many furniture makers, also called joiners. growth and change.
Schränke
Some of the German joiners specialized in
18th Century German Chest
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance writer specializing in writing short articles for 15 years. She is also an avid collector of both antique books and Star Wars memorabilia. Although she is not in the antiques
industry professionally, she has learned a lot about antiques over the years by periodically helping out at her mom’s antiques shop in Greenville, NH. She currently balances maintaining the antiques shop’s
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MallofNE, and working on various freelance writing assignments. She can be reached at dementorskiss77@yahoo.com.
September 2019 31
