​Nineteenth-century fancy furniture made in New York was the embodiment of its name: a creative and imaginative flight of fancy. Fancy side chairs were popular for their decorative painted style, light construction and rushed or caned seats. After 1815, painted stencils on furniture allowed detailed designs to be easily produced with accuracy. Several stencils might be used to achieve a single design.

The shell motif has a varied history in America. In the 18th century, shell motifs were carved into furniture to identify the location and seaport where a particular piece was constructed. Baltimore, Boston, Newport and New York City all had their own specific take on the shell. A growing sense of national identity after the American Revolutionary War helped standardize furniture styles and motifs, although regional variations still existed.