John Jelliff (1813-1893) was one of the most important cabinetmakers working in nineteenth-century America. This Renaissance Revival sofa's back comprises three sections: the top of the central portion features an ornamented cartouche and a female portrait medallion, the arm supports are carved with female heads, and the front seat rail rests on four turned and grooved tapering legs, with two flared rear legs. The attribution of this sofa to Jelliff is based on its similarity in form and detail to a documented piece in the Newark Museum, purchased from Jelliff and Company in 1868. This sofa was originally owned by the Downing family, after whom the town of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, was named.