Johannes/John Spitler Furniture

Betsy is working on an illustrated catalog raisonne, tentatively entitled Shenandoah’s Page Valley Style: The Painted Furniture of John Spitler, 1790-1806, that interprets Spitler’s style, especially his motifs. Spitler painted furniture in eastern Shenandoah (now Page) County, Virginia only; moving to Ohio in 1807 to become a farmer. Read More>>

John Shearer Furniture

The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820: ‘A True North Britain in the Southern Backcountry’ is a full-color catalogue raisonne that interprets the distinctive furniture made by John Shearer, a pro-British furniture maker working during the post-Revolutionary period. This catalog is the only work in which all of Shearer’s known pieces of his furniture are presented in a single volume. Read More >>

Have You Seen These?

There are a number of of pieces of furniture that Betsy is looking to examine and document that were made, painted, or in any way attributed to John Spitler or John Shearer. Click here to view all the photos of these pieces. >>

Appearances by Davison

Betsy lectures on the message-laden furniture of John Shearer, including new pieces that have turned up since the publication of her book The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820: ‘A True North Britain in the Southern Backcountry. She has also lectured widely on the painted furniture of John Spitler and is also working on a book tentatively titled Shenandoah’s Page Valley Style: The Painted Furniture of John Spitler, 1790-1806.  View Davison’s Updated Schedule of Appearances >>

About Betsy

Betsy Davison is an Independent Arts Scholar, author of The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820: “A True North Britain” in the Southern Backcountry. Graduating in 2009 from the History of Decorative Arts and Design at the Smithsonian/Parsons The New School of Design in Washington, D.C., she wrote her master’s thesis on John Shearer while pursuing her graduate studies there. Read More About Betsy >>

See All Davison’s Publications

Published in 2011, The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820: “A True North Britain” in the Southern Backcountry is a full-color catalogue raisonne of the distinctive furniture made by John Shearer, a pro-British furniture maker working during the post-Revolutionary period. Betsy is currently working on a book on John Spitler tentatively titled Shenandoah’s Page Valley Style: The Painted Furniture of John Spitler, 1790-1806, to be published in Spring 2021. Read More >>

Purchase

Currently available for purchase is The Furniture of John Shearer, 1790-1820: “A True North Britain” in the Southern Backcountry, by Elizabeth A. Davison. Purchase and View Available Methods of Payment >>