Chair
ca. 1880
Medium
Rosewood
Dimensions
31 1/2 x 15 3/8 x 19 1/4 in. (80 x 39.1 x 48.9 cm)
Classification
Chair
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, by exchange, 1975
Accession Number
1975.277
Art Historical Context
This elegant rosewood chair, crafted by the renowned Herter Brothers around 1880, exemplifies the of American luxury furniture during Gilded Age. Founded by German immigrant brothers Gustave and Christian Herter in New York, the firm catered to America's wealthiest elite, including presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Chester A. Arthur, blending European revival styles with innovative American craftsmanship. Measuring 31½ x 15⅜ x 19¼ inches, this compact yet stately piece was designed for intimate parlors or studies, reflecting the era's emphasis on comfort and opulence. Rosewood, a dense exotic h...