Furniture

Personal chattels in the use of a family. By the term "household furniture" in a will, all personal chattels will pass which may contribute to the use or convenience of the householder, or the ornament of the house; as, plate, linen, china (both useful and ornamental), and pictures. Ambl. 610; 1 Johns. Ch. (N. Y.) 329, 388; 1 Sim. & S. 189; 3 Russ. 301; 2 Williams, Ex'rs, 752; 1 Rop. Leg. 203, 204; 3 Ves. 312, 313. "It [the word "furniture"] is very general both in meaning and application, and its meaning changes so as to take the color of, or to be in accord with the subject to which it is applied." The articles spoken of as furniture of different places, as of a house, a ship, or a store, "differ in kind according to the purposes which they are intended to subserve; yet, being put and employed in the several places as the equipment thereof for ornament, or to promote comfort or to facilitate the business therein done, and being kept or intended to be kept for those or some of those purposes, they pertain to such places, and constitute the furniture thereof." 63 Ala. 401.

Personal chattels in the use of a family. “The word relates, ordinarily, to movable personal chattels. It is very general, both in meaning and application; and its meaning changes, so as to take the color of, or be in accord with, the subject to which it is ai)plied. Thus, we hear of the furniture of a parlor, of a bed-chamber, of a kitchen, of shops of various kinds, of a ship, of a horse, of a plantation, etc. The articles, utensils, implements, used in these various con Tiections, as also those used in a drug or other store, as the furniture thereof, differ in kind according to the purpose which they are intended to subserve; yet being put and employed in their several places as the equipment thereof, for ornament, or to promote comfort, or to facilitate the business therein done, and being kept, or Intended to be kept, for those or some one of those purposes, they pertain to such places respectively, and collectively constitute the furniture thereof;” Fore V. Hibbard, 63 Ala. 410. The expression household furniture must be understood to mean those ves.sels, utensils, or goods, which, not becoming fixtures, are designed chiefly for use in the family, as instruments of the household and for conducting and managing household affairs. It does not include a trunk nor a cabinet intended for keeping jewelry, etc.; Towns v. Pratt, 33 N. H. 346, 66 Am. Dec. 726. It is held that by the term household furniture in a will, all personal chattels will pass which may contribute to the use or convenience of the householder or the ornament of the house: as, plate, linen, china (both S. 189; 2 Will. Ex. 762; Jarm. Wills 712, n.; Marquam v. Sengfelder, 24 Or. 2, 32 Pac. 676; Eudicott V. Eudicott, 41 N. J. E3q. 93, 3 Atl. 157; bronzes, statuary, and pictures; Endicott V. Eudicott, 41 N. J. Eq. 93, 3 Atl. 167; but a watch will not; Gooch v. Gooch, 33 Me. 535; nor will books; 3 Ves. 311; or furniture of a school-room In a boarding school kept by a teacher; Appeal of Hoopes, 60 Pa. 220, 100 Am. Dec. 502; or silver plate used in a hotel; Dayton v. Tillou, 1 Rob. (N. Y.) 21. A sewing machine and piano were held exempt from attachment as “household furniture”; Von Storch v. Winslow, 13 R. I. 23, 43 Am. Rep. 10; but a doubt was expressed as to the piano, and as to that it was held contra in Dunlap v. Edgerton, 30 Vt. 224; Tanner v. Billings, 18 Wis. 163, 86 Am. Dec. 755.

This term includes that which fumlshes or with which anything ls furnished or supplied; whatever must be supplied to a house, a room or the like, to make it habitable, convenient or agreeable; goods, vessels, utensils, and other appendages necessary or convenient for housekeeping; whatever is added to the interior of a house or apartment, for use or convenience. Bell v. Golding, 27 Ind. 173. The term "furniture" embraces everything about the house that has been usually enjoyed therewith, including plate, linen, china, and pictures. Endicott v. Endicott, 4l N. J. Eq. 96, 3 Atl. 157. The word "fumifure" made use of in the disposition of the law, or in the conventions or acts of persons, comprehends only such furniture as is intended for use and ornament of apartments, but not libraries which happen to be there, nor plate. Civ. Code La. art. 477.

— Furniture of a ship. This term includes everything with which a ship requires to be furnished or equipped to make her seaworthy ; it comprehends all articles furnished by ship-chandlers, which are almost innumerable Weaver v. The S G Owens, 1 Wall. Jr. 369. Fed. Cas. No. 17,310

— Household furniture. This term, in a will, includes all personal chattels that may contribute to the use or convenience of the householder, or the ornament of the house; as plate, linen, china, both useful and ornamental, and picfures. But goods in trade, books, and wines will not pass by a bequest of household furniture. 1 Rop. Leg. 203.

This term includes that which furnishes, or with which anything is furnished or supplied; whatever must be supplied to a house, a room, or the like, to make it habitable, convenient, or agreeable; goods, vessels, utensils, and other appendages necessary or convenient for housekeeping; whatever is added to the interior of a house or apartment, for use or convenience. 27 ind. 173. The term “furniture” embraces everything about the house that has beeu usually enjoyed therewith, including plate, linen, china, and pictures. 41 N. J. Eq. 96, The word “furniture” made use of in the disposition of the law, or in the conventions or acts of persons, comprehends only such furniture ag is intended for use and ornament of apartments, but not libraries which happen to be there, nor plate. Civil Code La. art. 477.