Capitol Furniture Tour

This rolltop desk was purchased from the Chicago-based Kappes & Eggers Company in 1878. Its beautiful carved floral design tells us that it is of the Eastlake style, popular from about 1870-1900.

The desk's lockable rolltop, complete with a mail slot for letters recieved while the owner is away, hides a pigeonhole filing system. Faux drawers on its lower right side swing open to reveal a hidden vertical filing system for large ledgers. Clearly, this desk was created to be practical and functional.

This armchair is believed to have been in one of Michigan's first two capitol buildings. It is fashioned in the Empire Style, popular from about 1820-1850.

The curved "klismos" legs of this chair denote a classical influence, as this was a popular feature of ancient Greek furniture. The caning on the seat is not original, though it has been completed in a historically accurate fashion.

Of all the portraits in the collection, this one garners the most questions from our visitors! Governor Swainson's portrait stands out due to its unique brushwork, which gives it an unfinished, sketched appearance. It is a powerful example of how social and historical context can help us understand an artwork.

Swainson's portrait is an example of Abstract Expressionsim: a style that developed in response to the uncertainy of mid-20th century America. The country was at war in Vietnam, with the Korean War, WWII, and the Great Depression fresh in its collective memory. This art style is characterized by fast, loose, spontaneous brushstrokes and abstract colors, which help communicate the artist's emotional state to the viewer.

Fun Fact! This portrait is painted on a hardboard called Masonite, rather than canvas, which has created a challenge for conservators because oil paint has trouble adhering to it. Even the materials of this work reflect the uncertainty of its time period!

The recreated House rostrum consists of the original rostrum top and a new base commissioned in 2022. Check out the surrounding exhibit labels to learn more about how the original top survived, and how it found its way back to the Capitol!

Made of solid walnut and originally created by the Feige Brothers Company of Saginaw, the rostrum is fashioned in the Renaissance Revival style. This is evident from its straight lines, its heaviness, the columns that run down the piece, and the dentils lining the top portion of it – all classicizing elements.

When the current Capitol opened in 1879, it housed the State Library. Situated in the west wing, the library occupied the second, third, and fourth floors with two intermediate galleries.

The library held up to 100,000 volumes in large walnut bookcases like the one recreated here. Check out the labels within the bookcase to learn more about the process of recreating this piece!

Like the House rostrum, this bookcase is also Renaissance Revival style. Notice that the top is reminiscent of pediments seen in classical architecture, complete with dentils running along it and thick scrolls in its corners.

Photos #1 & #2 courtesy of the Craig A. Whitford Collection

The chairs and bench on display in the Senate Lobby are recreations of original furniture designs by the Capitol’s architect, Elijah E. Myers.

These are fashioned in the Eastlake style, which focused on traditional craftsmanship and simplicity. The pierced geometric designs are one hallmark of this style, as are the spindles along the backs of each piece.

From 1879-1970, Michigan's Supreme Court worked in this building. They later moved out, and today they operate in the nearby Hall of Justice. Some remaining furniture in the room is original.

This is the original Supreme Court bench, designed by Elijah E. Myers. Five chairs sit behind it to reflect the five justices that served in the Capitol’s early days. Today the Supreme Court has seven justices.

The bench was made by the Feige Brothers Company of Saginaw and is Renaissance Revival in style. Decorative details like the large scrolls, ornamental plaques, and the heavy, vertical lines in the piece are typical of this style.

The bookcase behind the justice's bench is a built-in original piece, and it is also in the Renaissance Revival style. Tall Corinthian columns and fluted pilasters provide a heavily Neoclassical feel to the piece, as does the detailed center pediment.

Take a seat on a bench and enjoy the view from the Senate Gallery!

The Senate Rostrum is original to the building and was made by the Feige Brothers Company. It is a Renaissance Revival style piece made of walnut.

The patterned rectangular ornaments along the top of the rostrum are decorative plaques, covered in burled walnut veneer. Burled wood comes from abnormal knots at the base of a tree that create unique, beautiful designs.

The solid walnut desks on the Senate floor are original to the building and were purchased from the Kappes & Eggers Company of Chicago for $13.97 ½ apiece. The desks are fashioned in the Eastlake style and feature the style’s hallmark incised linework.

The cutouts on the side of the desk and the burled veneers on the front of the piece are two other features that denote the Eastlake style. Look closely and you may also notice that a layer of wood has been attached to the bottom of each desk to make them taller and, therefore, more comfortable for a modern user.

When a senator wishes to speak during session, they stand at one of these lecterns with their hand raised and wait to be acknowledged. These lecterns are fashioned in the Gothic Revival style, most associated with religious architecture. The quatrefoil designs on the sides and front of the lectern, along with the pointed elements in its corners, are typical of this style.

While the lecterns are created to look antique, they are contemporary furnishings made by Senate carpenters. Below, you can see that an area has been added to support a phone.

As a working building, the Capitol must strike a careful balance between historical accuracy and practicality for those using it today.