Abstract:
This thesis seeks to assess the stylistic evolution of Baltimore furniture makers John and
Hugh Finlay. The brothers, who were active from 1803 to 1841, manufactured fanciful
painted furniture for a wide variety of clientele. The Finlays’ imaginative furnishings
made their way up and down the east coast, into the Madison’s White House, and even
across the Atlantic to Europe. The brothers distinguished themselves from their
competition by combining traditional Baltimore “fancy” furniture and a European
aesthetic. Although many people today are unfamiliar with the Finlay brothers, their
furniture lingers in the American consciousness. By analyzing samples of their work, the
author intends to give a more nuanced picture of the Finlays and their work.
