Sofa
1849–54
Medium
Mahogany, laminated mahogany, and upholstery
Dimensions
112.4 × 185.4 × 68.6 cm (44 1/2 × 73 × 27 in.)
Classification
seating
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
51399
Art Historical Context
Crafted between 1849 and 1854 by New York cabinetmaker Charles A Baudouine, this sofa exemplifies the opulent Rococo Revival style swept through American homes during the mid19th century. Measuring an impressive 112.4 × 185.4 × 68.6 cm, it was designed for luxurious parlors, where it served as both a comfortable seating piece and a statement of refined taste. Baudouine's work reflects the era's fascination with 18th-century French Roc aesthetics, adapted for the growing affluent middle class in antebellum America. The sofa's construction highlights masterful woodworking techniques: primary ma...