Hampton

Rococo Revival style, 1840-1860
Baltimore

This unusual, three-part sofa was made in Baltimore around 1850, a custom order for the Ridgelys. Historic photos in Hampton’s collection document its use in the Music Room from the 1880s through the 1940s.  It was likely in the room from the time of its purchase. Its large size and seating capacity would have been useful when numerous guests were present for musical evenings at Hampton. The design source may be plate 27 in George Hepplewhite’s The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide (1788, 1794) showing a three-part sofa of similar overall form but quite different in ornamentation. The Hampton sofa is fully carved with the naturalistic and scrolled ornamentation typical of the mid-19th century Rococo Revival.

Rosewood and other woods. H 87.6, W 201.5, D 88.9 cm
Hampton National Historic Site, HAMP 1064