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American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection

October 12, 1986 – April 19, 1987
West Building, Ground Floor, Graphics Galleries, GS-1 through GS-9 (4,500 sq. ft.)

Installation view of American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Gallery Archives

This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.

Overview: 101 examples of American furniture were shown, made between 1690 and 1840. Included were chairs, desks, tables, high chests, mirrors, clocks, and sconces from the regional style centers of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Newport, and Charleston. The works were collected by Mr. and Mrs. George M. Kaufman over a period of 25 years.

Organization: The exhibition was organized by J. Michael Flanigan, coordinating curator, and John Wilmerding. Objects on display were selected by the Kaufmans with Gaillard Ravenel, Mark Leithauser, and Wendy Cooper. The exhibition was arranged chronologically and regionally in installations designed by Ravenel and Leithauser, in collaboration with the lenders. Gordon Anson designed the lighting.

Attendance: 357,349

Catalog: American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection, by J. Michael Flanigan. Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1986.

Download a free PDF of the exhibition catalog (PDF 82.39MB)