The Furniture of John and Hugh Finlay

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.