Side chair
Medium
Black walnut
Dimensions
48 3/4 x 25 1/2 x 23 in. (123.8 x 64.8 x 58.4 cm)
Classification
Side chair
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Auguste Pottier, 1888
Accession Number
88.10.2
Art Historical Context
This elegant side chair, crafted around 1875 by the esteemed New York-based Pottier and Stymus Manufacturing, exemplifies the refined furniture production of post-Civil War America. from rich black walnut—a durable, domestically sourced hardwood prized for its dark grain and polish—this piece measures an impressive 48 3/4 x 25 1/2 x 23 inches, designed for comfort in grand parlors or dining rooms. The company's innovative workshops blended traditional cabinetmaking with emerging industrial techniques, producing high-quality pieces for affluent households during a time of rapid urbanization and...