Due Reverence

This vol. evolved from a tiny segment of the author’s study of the Cabinet of Curiosities of the Am. Philosophical Soc. (APS). One of the divisions of this Cabinet is “Objets d’Art” and he included furniture in this division. As time passed, awareness grew of several fascinating and valuable antiques in the Soc., begining with 1769. Most of the “objets” pertain to various presidents of the Soc., although a few are from members whose activity in the Soc. was memorable. Some items were purchased, also, or made, for the Soc. No work has been done hitherto on this furniture as a unitl. Several pieces are well known and have been researched at various times: Franklin’s library chair, the Rittenhouse astronomical timepiece, the chair which Jefferson purchased in Philadelphia in 1776 and used while he wrote the Declaration of Independence, for example. Little is known of most of the various artifacts, however, or their provenance. Photos.