Hyde Hall

Close stool

Close stool

Close Stool

Made by John Meads (1777-1859) and William Alvord ( 1766-1853)

Albany, New York

1828-1829

There would have been some kind of chamber pot in every bedroom at Hyde Hall to make guests and family members as comfortable as possible. This is an example of an elegant, mahogany close stool disguised as a small bureau. It was purchased from Meads and Alvord on April 20, 1829 for $16.00.

Closet Table

Closet Table

Closet Table

Made by John Meads (1777-1859)

Albany, New York

1813

A pair of closet tables were purchased by George Clarke (1768-1835) from John Meads on October 19, 1813 for £28.0.0. Closet tables were an early form of toilet, basically a chamber pot enclosed within a cabinet that would be used in a bedroom. They could also be used as a side table.

Armchair

Armchair

Armchair

Made by John Meads (1777-1859)

Albany, New York

1813

George Clarke (1768-1835) purchased eight armchairs  at £51.5.0 and four side chairs  at  £20.0.0 for his dining room. They were purchased from John Meads on May 17th, 1813 while Clarke was still residing at his Albany home.  Meads was a prominent cabinetmaker in that city, and many of the original furnishings of Hyde Hall purchased between 1813 and 1834 are documented, and attributed to Meads’ firm. These Chairs came to Hyde Hall in 1819 when the Clarke family moved from Albany.

Canterbury

Canterbury

Canterbury

Made by John Meads (1777-1859) and William Alvord (1766- 1853)

Albany, New York

1833

The canterbury is a form of furniture designed to hold sheet music, newspapers, and other publications. This Canterbury was purchased from Meads and Alvord of Albany, NY on July 24, 1833 to accompany the piano he purchased for the new drawing room at Hyde Hall. The original purchase price for the canterbury was $25.00.

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