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Horatio Seymour of Middlebury built his federal home (1815-1820) and put this furniture in a niche in the dining room. Until acquired by VHS, these were the only known pieces of pre-1850 Vermont furniture that were in the house, still in the original spot, where their owner placed them. The building and the furniture, the latest fashion of the day, reflected Seymour's wealth and status in the community. A lawyer by training, Seymour was elected U.S. Senator from Vermont serving from 1821 to 1833. His home, located next to the Congregational Church, was lived in by his descendants, the Battells and Swifts, who gave it to Middlebury in 1932. It is known today as the Community House.
Middlebury was a bustling and thriving town when Seymour purchased this furniture. There were several cabinetmakers capable of making stylish pieces that these, but at this point we don't know which one produced these two. The sideboard was used to hold serving pieces, linens, and silverware. The cellaret, a rare furniture form in Vermont, has square wooden compartments inside for holding bottles of wine and liquor.