Page 19 - Layout 1

The Wallace Nutting Furniture Business
Over time Nutting became an author, lecturer, and authority on
Early American furniture. Whether he purchased it himself or knew
others who owned it, he developed the
ability to identify which were good,
better, or best. Nutting closely studied
Antique furniture, starting with
Windsor chairs and Pilgrim Century
Furniture. He would literally take a
fine antique apart, study what made it
so special, and then had his factory
craftsmen reproduced it, by hand
where possible, as close to the original
as possible, and then sell it to the pub-
lic. Over the next 30-years, Nutting
reproduced the finest in early American
furniture, from Bowback Windsors to
Goddard Highboys. He also authored
the first comprehensive book on the
American Windsor Chair (1917) and
then published his Furniture of the Wallace Nutting New England style
At Nuttinghame, Comfort and a Cat Pilgrim Century (1921). Windsor Comb-back Armchair

With the Colonial Revival Movement at its peak, Nutting sought to
capitalize on it through his Colonial interior photographs. The story Nutting’s Chain of Colonial Picture Houses
has it that one rainy day when he was unable to photograph outside, Wallace Nutting operated his Chain of Colonial Picture Houses
Mrs. Nutting suggested that he take a more “personable” picture from around 1915-1920. During this period, he purchased a series of
indoors. So he staged a room in his house, arranged the appropriate five New England houses which he felt represented every early style of
colonial setting, had an employee dress in period clothing, and took his American architecture, and which offered the finest in dignity, beauty,
first colonial scenes in kitchens, bedrooms, hallways, and of course, and elegance. Each house was carefully restored while trying to remain
parlors. They caught on in popularity, sales increased, and he entered a as faithful to the original as possible. Once properly restored and
new phase in his photography business. furnished, he opened the houses to the public for a small fee.
Nutting claimed that he purchased these homes to portray an
accurate picture of early American life, as well as to serve as a back-
There’s No Place Like Home ground for his colonial photographs. The Chain displayed nearly 200
Nuttinghame: In 1905 as he transitioned his photography business
to Connecticut, Nutting purchased an old house which he humbly Windsor chairs, along with hundreds of other quality Antiques, and he
was able to photograph hundreds of backgrounds for his picture inven-
named Nuttinghame, and it was here that his hand-colored picture tory. And he was never reluctant to substitute his reproductions for
business, and his colonial interior pictures, began to take off. Nutting period furniture, where appropriate.
had photographic equipment, antique furniture, colonial backgrounds, The Wallace Nutting Chain of Colonial Picture Houses included:
and appropriate models needed to expand his photographic inventory. Broadhearth, The Saugus Iron Works House (137 Central St,
He also had the ability to market and sell his photos to the general public. Saugus Centre, MA): Built in 1646, the Saugus Iron Works was the
Nutting’s Southbury parlor scenes are easy to identify because most
were taken in the same room and around the same fireplace. Titles such first successful ironworks in the colonies and the first house that
Nutting restored. Saugus pictures can often be identified by their
as The Maple Sugar Cupboard, A Sip of Tea, and A Bit of Sewing depicted Pilgrim Century appearance including wide walk-in fireplaces, Carver
the woman-of-the-house performing traditional chores such as cooking & Pilgrim chairs, early Windsor chairs, Cromwellian furniture, and
or sewing. Windsor chairs, rocking chairs, candlestands, and other writing arm Windsor chairs. The fireplace was adorned with cast iron
antique furniture items were positioned around the hearth, on hooked and metal cookware, along with wooden plates and treenware were the
rugs, in a traditional colonial setting. dishwares of the day.
Nuttingholme: With the picture business doing well around 1911-
Hazen-Garrison House (8 Groveland St., Haverhill, MA): Built in
12, Nutting opted to sell it and Nuttinghame. Unfortunately, after his 1690, this house was built to serve as a garrison house in times of attack
house was sold, the buyer of the picture business backed out and by hostiles. The parlor had an 8-
Nutting was left with his business, foot wide fireplace and furniture
but no home. He moved to included Butterfly tables, settles,
Framingham, MA where he pur- Jacobean furniture, heavy oak
chased another house he named tables, chair tables, and candle-
“Nuttingholme.” With a group of stands. utensils moved beyond
20 employees he brought with him treenware and consisted of Pewter,
from Southbury, Framingham is Silver, and Earthenware.
where his picture business really Hospitality Hall, Webb House
took off, with over 200 employees (89 Main St., Wethersfield, CT):
at its peak. Built in 1752, the Webb House is
Nutting continued to take his
colonial photographs in Nutting- known today as the “Webb-Deane-
Stevens Museum”. Arguably this
holme and continued to expand his was the most historically important
photographic inventory to meet house in Connecticut because
increasing public demand. And it George Washington spent five days
was at this time, as his know-ledge here while planning the Yorktown
of antiques grew, that he realized campaign in 1781. Yorktown Parlor
there wasn’t enough quality period displays colorful pictorial wallpaper,
antique furniture to be found. So with period style furniture, including
he decided to reproduce it. At a friend’s house, Baking Day
continued on page 19

January 2021 17