Dominy Furniture at Winterthur

Nathaniel IV and his son, Nathaniel V, satisfied local demand for “neat and plain” furniture that avoided the perceived excesses of fashions popular elsewhere. Working on commission, they negotiated with customers over the materials, design, and price of each piece, calculating one-third of their total charge as the cost of materials, one-third as the cost of their labor, and one-third as profit.

Learn more about the Dominy furniture in the Winterthur collections

Desk-and-bookcase
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1800
Maple, cherry, white pine
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Special Fund for Collection Objects 1992.66

Great chair
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1822
Maple, oak
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Special Fund for Collection Objects 1992.93

Rocking chair
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, NY
1825-1840
Hickory; Pine; Rush
Gift of Walter R. and Phebe Mason Smith in memory of Jared Smith, 1992.0115

Rocking chair
Nathaniel Dominy IV
East Hampton, New York
1790-1830
Hickory; Oak, white; Maple, soft
Museum purchase, 1957.0034.003

Tea table
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York
1796
Mahogany; Birch
Museum purchase, 1957.0080.001

Chest upon chest
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York
1791-1810
Oak; Brass
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Special Fund for Collection Objects, 1992.0109

Great Chair
Nathaniel Dominy IV or Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1790–1810
Maple, oak, rush
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Special Fund for Collection Objects 1993.1

Rocking chair with arms
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, new York; 1817
Gift of Rob Tarule 2017.1

Stand
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; probably 1789
Cherry
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Special Fund for Collection Objects 1992.90

Rocking chair with arms
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1804–30
Soft maple, red and white oak
Museum purchase 1957.34.2

Windsor side chair
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1800–1805
Maple, tulip-poplar, hickory (microanalysis)
Museum purchase 1967.148

Breakfast table
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1815–20
Mahogany, mahogany veneer, cherry, original brass pulls and casters
Museum purchase 1968.16

Looking glass
Nathaniel Dominy V
East Hampton, New York; 1796
Mahogany, white pine
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Special Fund for Collection Objects 1992.92