Phyfe, Duncan, 1768-1854

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Duncan Phyfe was a furniture maker in New York City. Born in 1768 in Loch Fannich, Scotland, his family emigrate to Albany, N.Y. in 1783. Phyfe had probably served as an apprentice in his native country. He is believed to have had a small cabinetmaking shop in Albany, N.Y. Sometime before 1792, he moved to New York City where from the 1790s to 1847, he had a successful cabinetmaking business Partition St., which later became Fulton St. Phyfe's shop, which had almost 100 working craftsmen, attracted many of New York's leading citizens as customers. Many other cabinetmakers copied Phyfe's work. Until 1837, Phyfe conducted business under his own name, but in that year his sons, William and James D., became partners and the firm was renamed Duncan Phyfe & Sons. When William left the business in 1840 the partnership was dissolved and the firm became Duncan Phyfe & Son. Phyfe retired in 1847 having accumulated a a large fortune; he died in 1854.

From the description of Papers, 1801-ca.1860. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 84666353

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Duncan Phyfe? the great typescript. Albright Memorial Library, Scranton Public Library
creatorOf Phyfe, Duncan, 1768-1854. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Brewerton family. Papers, 1785-1867, 1800-1819 (bulk). Winterthur Library
referencedIn Hammond, James Henry, 1807-1864. James Henry Hammond letters, 1831-1845 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Phyfe, Duncan : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Halsey, R. T. Haines (Richard Townley Haines), 1865-1942. Research papers, 1901-1942. Winterthur Library
creatorOf Phyfe, Duncan, 1768-1854. Last will and testament of Duncan Phyfe, 1854. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Phyfe, Duncan, 1768-1854. Papers, 1801-ca.1860. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Pinckney family. Pinckney family papers, 1694-1847. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Miscellaneous papers, 1781-1949, 1830-1947 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Hagen, Ernest F., 1830-1913. Papers, 1881-1913, 1988. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Charles Over Cornelius papers, 1921-1932 Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brewerton family. family
associatedWith Cornelius, Charles Over, 1890-1937 person
associatedWith Hagen, Ernest F., 1830-1913. person
associatedWith Halsey, R. T. Haines (Richard Townley Haines), 1865-1942. person
associatedWith Hammond, James Henry, 1807-1864. person
associatedWith Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Pinckney family. family
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
Subject
Coffins
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture industry and trade
Inventories of decedents' estates
Occupation
Cabinetmakers
Activity

Person

Birth 1768-04-27

Death 1854-08-16

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w62j79jh

SNAC ID: 32758465