Furniture

STOOL

Stool with rush seat.

BOWL

 

Oval solid wooden bowl with center carved out.

DESK

c. 1780-1810

American Federal cherry table ends.

SERVING TRAY

Wooden serving tray with carved out handles on each side.

TOWEL RACK

Nineteenth century

 

Wooden towel horse with two rungs.

WALL FIXTURE

c. 1870

 

Pair of American Renaissance bronze and gilt-bronze two light gas light fixtures.

WASHSTAND

Early nineteenth century

 

American Empire maple washstand.

CABINET

Late nineteenth century

French style inlaid mahogany vitrine cabinet. Cabriole legs, mirror back.

ANDIRON

Pair of iron andiron; 19" height, 9" wide.

LAMP

c. 1840

Pair of brass oil lamps converted to electric lights.

CLOCK

c. 1850

American rosewood painted and gilt mantel clock.

BED

c. 1825- 1830

American Empire maple four poster bed; belonged to Judge Elijah Miller. 

 

ARM CHAIR

c. 1838

American Restoration mahogany open arm writing chair.

CHAIR

c. 1880

American Eastlake walnut dining chairs. Upholstered leather back pad and seat, turned legs and stretchers. Set of eight. 

SIDEBOARD

c. 1815 

American Empire mahogany sideboard.

GAME TABLE

Late 1790s

Hepplewhite style Federal inlaid mahogany games table. Rectangular top with inset rounded frontal comers.

DINING TABLE

c. 1840

American Restoration mahogany double pedestal, extension top table. Will seat 24 when fully extended.

BROOM

Broom with bamboo handle.

SOFA

c. 1825- 1835

 

American Restoration mahogany and upholstered sofa.

FOOTSTOOL

c.1840

American Federal Mahogany upholstered footstool.

FOOTSTOOL

Mid nineteenth century

American Rococo walnut upholstered footstool.

RUG BEATER

Rug beater. 

SIDEBOARD

c. 1830

American Empire mahogany sideboard.

SIDEBOARD

c.1815-1825

 

American Federal mahogany sideboard. Rectangular top with superstructure containing a single drawer at each end.

PRAYER CHEST

c. 1870.

Japanese gold decorated, wooden prayer chest. Oriental scenes of homes and country-side with drawers and doors.

PELMET

Four gilt wood pelmets.

BRACKET

Gilt wall bracket with marble top. Three supports bracing it against wall.

LAMP

c. 1870

Pair of Kutani vases mounted as lamps. Decorated in red and gold with figures and flowers. Gold-colored lamp shades.

GARDEN SEAT

c. 1871

Pair of Chinese export famille-rose porcelain hexagonal garden seats. Small holes

in seats allowing light from an interior candle to show through.

CLOCK

c.1886

American Colonial revival mahogany tall case clock.

CLOCK

c.1840

American gothic style rosewood mantle clock.  Glass door with wooden divider - bottom is etched in a circular design with a star center.

FIRESIDE CHAIR

Late 18th Century

Fireside chair. American upholstered invalid wing chair.  Removable seat for commode.

LOUIS XVI MAHOGANY UPHOLSTERED SOFA

c. 1890  

Louis XVI style mahogany upholstered sofa. Reeded legs, open arms partly upholstered. Finials on top of side columns. 

SLEEP SOFA

c. 1840 

American Restoration, upholstered sleep sofa. Curved back with scroll arms on bobbin-turned legs. Seward passed away on this couch on October 10, 1872. 

A New York American Empire mahogany sofa with animal paw feet and scrolled arm rests decorated with carved swan heads.  It is upholstered in brown velvet with two "squab" pillows.  The sofa's design is similar to cornucopia sofa.

American Empire sofa

c.1820-1830

A New York American Empire mahogany sofa with animal paw feet and scrolled arm rests decorated with carved swan heads.  It is upholstered in brown velvet with two "squab" pillows.  The sofa's design is similar to cornucopia sofa.

American Restoration mahogany rocking chair with roll back with open arms and olive green plush upholstery.

American Restoration rocking chair

c.1860

American Restoration mahogany rocking chair with roll back with open arms and olive green plush upholstery.  The style is considered a "Lincoln" rocker with molded back.

This American Federal drop panel mahogany desk has three small drawers on top, three large drawers at the bottom, a key cupboard on the right side, and a drawer of same size on the left with brass drawer pulls.

American Federal desk

c. 1800

This American Federal drop panel mahogany desk has three small drawers on top, three large drawers at the bottom, a key cupboard on the right side, and a drawer of same size on the left with brass drawer pulls.   The front is decorated with 1/4" inlay of lighter wood.  A candle...

American Rococo pressed brass window pelmets with repousse (metal hammered into relief) shell, foliage, flower and strapwork motifs.

Pelmet

Mid-19th century

A pair of American Rococo pressed brass window pelmets with repousse (metal hammered into relief) shell, foliage, flower and strapwork motifs.  

Fireplace brush with bamboo handle and horsehair bristles.

Brooms

Multiple fireplace brooms exist within the Seward House. The examples here show one with a bamboo handle and another with a turned mahogany handle with both brooms useing horsehair for the bristles. 

Wooden bellow has painted tulips with black border and gilt leaves.

Bellow

Wooden bellow has painted tulips with black border and gilt leaves.

American Rococo Revival, carved gesso and gilt framed mirror.  Human head at top looking down

American Rococo Revival mirror

Mid-19th century

This American Rococo Revival carved gesso and gilt framed mirror rises 7.5 feet high and just over 5 feet wide. At the top rests a human head looking down. Seward owned two of these mirrors and both were used in his Washington home from 1855-1860. Both are on display in...

American Rococo giltwood side chairs each with shaped crest rail and spindle back with turned legs and upholstered seats.

American Rococo giltwood side chairs

c. 1860

A pair of small American Rococo giltwood side chairs each with shaped crest rail and spindle back with turned legs and upholstered seats.  Used in Seward's Washington home, these chairs were referred to as "wallflower" chairs which would be place around the walls in ballrooms and...

Carved gilt marble-topped table, the top of which forms a half turtle shape.  Lyre-shaped back with two curved supports extending from the base, which rests on a marble piece.  Floral designs on front panel and large flowers decorate the corners and center panel at the top of the table.

Gilt marble-topped table

Carved gilt marble-topped table, the top of which forms a half turtle shape.  Lyre-shaped back with two curved supports extending from the base, which rests on a marble piece.  Floral designs on front panel and large flowers decorate the corners and center panel at the top of the table.  

American Rococo carved gesso and giltwood, marble-topped table.  Cabriole legs with medallions and flower designs.  Turtle shaped top of white marble.

American Rococo table

c. 1860

American Rococo carved gesso and giltwood, marble-topped table.  The cabriole legs are designed with medallions and flower.  The white marble top has a turtle shaped.  This table was prossibly reduced in height at one point.

Mahogany or walnut pierced frame with cloth screen - one side red and the other floral pattern.  Standard is short with round ball, slightly turned and round base set on four ball feet.

Fire screen

c. 1840

American Restauration fire screen.  Mahogany or walnut pierced frame with cloth screen - one side red and the other floral pattern.  Standard is short with round ball, slightly turned and round base set on four ball feet.

Carved with a scene of a hunter and three dogs chasing a deer around the circular clock base.  The clock has white Roman numerals and white hands.

Swiss Clock

c.1860

Clock carved from a single log by an old Swiss soldier.  Carved with a scene of a hunter and three dogs chasing a deer around the circular clock base.  The clock has white Roman numerals and white hands. Purchased during William H. Seward 1871 post-retirement trip to Europe.

Naturalistic twig-carved openwork back centering a stag on inlaid navette-shaped medallion.  Serpentine seat with circular medallion.  Cabriole legs.

Music Box Chair

Late 19th Century

Acquired by Wm. H. Seward II while traveling in Europe in 1888. Walnut carved and inlaid music box chair.  Carved in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.  Naturalistic twig-carved openwork back centering a stag on inlaid navette-shaped medallion.  Serpentine seat with circular...

 Painted red and black to resemble marble with gilt ornament.  White china face with black Roman numerals.  Stands on four gilt bronze feet.  Cartouche form.

Mantle Clock, Ansonia Clock Co. of New York

c. 1870

Louis XV style metal clock. Painted red and black to resemble marble with gilt ornament. Includes a white china face with black Roman numerals.  Stands on four gilt bronze feet.

Marble rectangular top with canted corners above a molded frieze.  Raised on scroll supports with serpentine base and mirrored back.

Mahogany Pier Table

c. 1839

This American Restoration mahogany pier table is currently on view in the library. 

 Gilt base over metal, glass shade, both clear and frosted with square topped prisms

Sinumbra Lamp

Mid 19th Century

Gilt base over metal, glass shade, both clear and frosted with square topped prisms.  Electrified. Possibly made in England by the Messenger Co. due to the decorations. No signatures or model numbers to be found on it.  

Heavy, broken cornice decorated with acorns above a two-part glass flanked by pairs of turned and beaded colonnettes.

American Empire Mirror

c. 1810 

American Empire gilt-framed pier mirror. A miller familiy item currently located in the parlor. This mirror is from the Seward's Washington home. Includes a matching mirror currently located in the drawing room. Mirrors: Left of entrance: Miller family item; American Empire....

French-style Gilt Chairs

c. 1850

The French-style gilt furniture is from Seward’s home in Washington DC on Lafayette Square, across from the White House. Seward rented the home, known as the “Old Clubhouse,” during the 8 years he served as Secretary of State, early 1861 through March 1869. Foreign ambassadors and...

Robert Nunns, Clark & Co. Pianoforte

c. 1834

Robert Nunns, Clark & Company. rosewood square fortepiano. These pianos were very popular from 1800-1860 and were considered luxury items both used and new for white, middle class Americans.

Inlaid teakwood circular table with geometric motifs in 'rising sun' design supported on cylindrical post with four scalloped braces at the top and circular, molded base

Japanese Gaming Table

c.1870

Japanese inlaid teakwood circular table.  Includes a inlay of geometric motifs including "rising sun" design.  Raised on a cylindrical post with four scalloped braces at the top and circular, molded base.  Old gilt edge to top.  Obtained by Secretary Seward on trip around the world...

German relief globe made of paper mâché.

German Paper Mâché Globe

c. 1860

German relief globe made of paper mâché. Was used by Seward in his office at the Department of State. Seward would have received this globe and used it to connect with other officials abroad, and found inspiration for his expansionist ideas during the Johnson administration.

Steinway & Sons Patent Grand Piano

19th century

Steinway and Sons rosewood "Patent" grand piano. Given to Janet Watson Seward by Wm. H. Seward II in 1872 on her 33rd birthday.

Favrile glass finger bowl

Tiffany & Co. Finger Bowl

 c. 1872

Favrile glass finger bowl by Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of Tiffany & Co. President Charles Lewis Tiffany, an American artist and designer in the 19th and 20th Centuries. We do not know much about the circumstances surrounding the purchase of this finger bowl, but we do know...

A cherry cradle with solid bottom. Headboard higher, but same design as footboard. Open hand grips on each side. Short rockers.

The Miller's Cradle

 

 c. 1772

A cherry cradle with solid bottom. Headboard higher, but same design as footboard. Open hand grips on each side. Short rockers. Cradle used by Elijah Miller.

Watchie's Bench

 c.1856

A wooden bench; 9" x 30" x 8"

Inscribed on top: "This marks the memory of our pet. Our Watchie was a faithful guardian and a dear friend" Died: April 22 1856 / 3 years 11 months /

Marble top has a scene with a horse and a palm tree in yellow, red and gray in a circular center with the inscription "Carthago Delenda Est."  Top of table has a Gothic fret-carved border with turned pendants, on a leaf-carved shaft.  Quadrupedal base, each leg with double-scroll design.

Carthage Mosaic Round Table

 c. 1855

An American Rococo Gothic walnut marble-top table.  Marble top has a scene with a horse and a palm tree in yellow, red and gray in a circular center with the inscription "Carthago Delenda Est."  Top of table has a Gothic fret-carved border with turned pendants, on a leaf-carved...

Gilt framed mirror with turned columns on sides

American Empire Wall Mirror

c.1830

American Empire gilt framed mirror with turned columns on sides. Includes round, gilt balls at top and heavy cornice. Glass in 2 sections with gilt moulding divider 1/3 of the way down. 

Tin Sitz bath

Date Unknown 

American tin sitz bath with wooden handles.

Paulina Miller's Rocking Chair

c. 1820

Rocking chair with 3 slats on back and rush seat.  Arms ending in slight scroll.  Short rockers.  Chair is painted black with yellow line trim.  Chair belonged to Judge Elijah Miller's mother, Pauline Titus Miller.

Spindle-back Chair

c. 1820

American painted (black) 3 spindle-back side chair with rush seat (broken).  From the Miller estate. 

Work Table

Date Unknown

Wooden table with square legs.  Top is covered with carpeting.  Now in basement as work table.

Windsor-style Chair

c. 1830

Green windsor-style spindle-back plank seat Chairs

Congressional Desk from Federal Hall

c. 1789

This desk is one of only 24 known to still exist today. It was used by the delegates of Federal Hall in New York City circa 1789. Used at George Washington’s inauguration. That Federal Hall building had originally been constructed between 1699 and 1702 as the third location of New...