INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Order Number 1351947 Limits of conservatism: Cabinetmaker Adam Kersh Maurer, Nina Norem, M.A. University of Delaware, 1992 Copyright ©1992 by Maurer, Nina Norem. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. ZeebRd. Ann Arbor, M I 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIMITS OF CONSERVATISM: CABINETMAKER ADAM KERSH by Nina Maurer A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Early American Culture Fall 1992 Copyright 1992 Nina N. Maurer All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIMITS OF CONSERVATISM: CABINETMAKER ADAM KERSH by Nina Maurer Approved: Charles F. Hummel, Professor in charge of thesis{ on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: Q f /O U jU a ___________________________________ James C. Curtis, Ph.D. Director of the Winterthur Program in Early Amjerican Culture Approved: C(Md£ z ■ __________________ Carol E. HoffeckerVjPh.D. Acting Associate (-Pteovost for Graduate Studies Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. iii Business card of Adam Kersh with inset photograph. Courtesy, E. Ray Wine, M t . Solon. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My thanks are due to Charles Hummel, former deputy director of collections, Winterthur, for piloting my research through a long summer of fieldwork and a longer winter of drafts. He has kept this project off the shoals. Neville Thompson, head librarian, Winterthur, provided a port of call in Fincastle, that I might know the pleasure of a summer evening in the Shenandoahs. In her role as curator of the Museum of American Frontier Culture, Ann McCleary made it possible for me to use the Kersh material in storage. My time in the Valley was greatly enriched by her example. Scott Landis threw out the lifeline more than once, as editor, photographer, and production director. Finally, to those who continue--Carlyn and the boys, and the sisters Glick--my gratitude for your grace, goodwill, and the bridge you extended. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF F I G U R E S ..................................... vi ABSTRACT ............................................ INTRODUCTION......................................! . 1 Chapter 1 CONSERVATISM .................................... 6 2 THE S H O P ......................................... 36 3 TRADE PRACTICE .................................. 63 4 THE FURNITURE.................................... 90 5 C A T A L O G ......................................... 135 CONCLUSION......................................... 229 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................... 233 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES Frontispiece: Business card of Adam Kersh with inset photograph. Courtesy, E. Ray Wine, Mt. S o l o n ...................... iii Chapter 1: Figure 1.1 Adam Wise Kersh (1828-1905) 33 Figure 1.2 Kersh cabinet shop, Augusta County, Virginia, in 1984 34 Figure 1.3 Trapdoor in parlor floor of Kersh farmhouse where Adam evaded military duty during the last ten months of the Civil W a r .................................35 Chapter 2: Figure 2.1 Plan of the Kersh f a r m ..................... 54 Figure 2.2 Kersh cabinet shop from the road showing main (northeast) door through g a t e ..................... 55 Figure 2.3 Interior of Kersh shop first floor in 1984 56 Figure 2.4 Plan of Kersh shop first f l o o r .............57 Figure 2.5 Plan of Kersh shop second f l o o r ........... 58 Figure 2.6 Horizontal sliding-sash windows in south wall of Kersh s h o p ...................................... 59 Figure 2.7 North wall of Kersh shop showing "hinged" effect of lapped construction ......................... 60 vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. vii Figure 2.8 Batten on main door of shop painted with Kersh's initials and date "1887" 61 Figure 2.9 Second floor of Kersh shop on south side showing exterior door, possibly used as an entry to living quarters ....................................... 62 Chapter 3: Figure 3.1 Board from Kersh shop with notes on chair production penciled between lines of shape-note music 83 Figure 3.2 Workbench in southwest corner of Kersh shop, showing handle-maker's vise locked in leg vise of bench 84 Figure 3.3 Paint-grinding table and pestle from Kersh s h o p ....................................................85 Figure 3.4 Combination lathe and scroll-saw treadle machine of the kind used by K e r s h ......................86 Figure 3.5 Lathe marking sticks used to speed production of turned w o r k .............................. 87 Figure 3.6 Patterns for two rocking chair arms from the Kersh s h o p ..............................................88 Figure 3.7 Detail of dovetail joint on washstand drawer .......................................................... 89 Chapter 4: Figure 4.1 Chair in the Renaissance revival style made by Mitchell and Rammelsberg Furniture Company about 1877 120 Figure 4.2 Dresser labeled by Mitchell and Rammelsberg Furniture Company made with a dovetailing machine . 121 Figure 4.3 Mitchell and Rammelsberg bed (c. 1875) with sloped pediment and decorative flaring "wings" similar to those on Kersh b e d s ................................ 122 Figure 4.4 Mitchell and Rammelsberg bed (c. 1877) with figured overlays and volutes commonly found on Kersh b e d s ................................................... 123 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. viii Figure 4.5 Hallstand (c. 1877) by Mitchell and Rammelsberg patterned on design reform principles of Charles Eastlake ..................................... 124 Figure 4.6 Bedroom suite with shallow carving, reeding, and straight contours borrowed from Eastlake designs 125 Figure 4.7 Drawing of a sideboard by CharlesEastlake 126 Figure 4.8 Turned elements from Kersh's shop .... 127 Figure 4.9 Carved headboard sold by A. R o d a ......... 128 Figure 4.10 Carved drawer handles by A. Roda, of the type used by Kersh on case f u r n i t u r e .................. 129 Figure 4.11 Drawer handle with floral stamp on a pie safe made by K e r s h .................................... 130 Figure 4.12 Detail of Kersh end table drawer showing commercial stamped-metal pull ....................... 131 Figure 4.13 Postcard chair order from Rebecca J. Houff of Staunton to Kersh, April 3, 1877 132 Figure 4.14 Washstand (1907) from Montgomery Ward, bought by Kersh's neighbor Stephen F. Wise .......... 133 Figure 4.15 Bed made by a possible competitor, J. E. James of Mossy Creek, showing arched headboard and rosettes found on Kersh b e d s .......................... 134 Chapter 5: Figure 5.1 Bed with simple arched head and foot boards ......................................................... 184 Figure 5.2 Detail of a bed rail showing shaped corner block designed by Kersh to hold slat supports .... 185 Figure 5.3 Two turned finials from the Kersh shop . 186 Figure 5.4 Headboard with shallow carving of S-scrolls, volutes, and l e a v e s ................................... 187 Figure 5.5 Bed (c. 1896) with decorative carving reproduced on three other Kersh beds................... 188 Figure 5.6 Bed with scroll-edged headboard ........ 189 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction