Philadelphia Chippendale Sofa

Upholsterer: Michael Mascelli
Primary: mahogany; Secondary: poplar
Finish: aniline dye, amber shellac

This sofa, with its serpentine front seat rail, Philadelphia-style seat back, cabriole legs and ball and claw feet, is of my own design; a composite of many actual examples. However, skills obtained from SAPFM's 2011 Cartouche award winner Ben Hobbs' chair classes, Tony Kubalak's book Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements, Norman Vandal's article, "Chippendale Sofa", in the November/December issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine and Carlyle Lynch's measured drawing "Chippendale Camelback Sofa", were invaluable sources of information concerning construction techniques and joinery, etc., and carving the ball and claw foot. The sofa was upholstered by fellow SAPFM member, Mike Mascelli. See Mike's article, "Affordable Upholstery for a Period Reproduction Chair",in SAPFM's 2009 edition of American Period Furniture Fabric coordinated by A. HICKMAN Design of Fredericksburg, VA.