Side Chair

About this artwork

The influence of Japanese artistic techniques and motifs abound in this cabinet, from the dazzling gold-field butterfly plaques set into the left and right cabinet doors, to the stylized floral inlays of the ebonized central compartment. Herter Brothers was one of the leading firms that designed furniture and interiors for the American upper class during the Aesthetic Movement, a cultural trend that emphasized beauty, particularly in the home. In the late 1870s, Herter Brothers began to incorpor...

Art Historical Context

Step into the lavish world of Gilded Age with this exquisite side chair by Herter Brothers, crafted between 1877 and1885. Measuring 95.9 × 43.6 × 42.5 cm, it features ebonized cherry—a cherry wood stained to a sleek, ebony-like sheen—for a sophisticated, modern contrast to its plush upholstery. Delicate inlays of various add intricate geometric or floral patterns, showcasing the firm's mastery of mixed-media decoration. Herter Brothers, a premier New York cabinetmaking firm founded by German immigrant brothers Gustav and Christian Herter, catered to America's wealthiest families, including the Vanderbilts. Their work embodied the Aesthetic Movement's fusion of Eastern influences, Renaissance motifs, and Anglo-Japanese design, prioritizing beauty and craftsmanship over mere utility. Ebonizing, popular in the late 19th century, evoked exotic luxury, while the inlays demonstrated virtuoso marquetry techniques honed in their workshops. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the Americas department, this chair reflects the era's cultural shift toward eclectic, high-style furnishings that adorned opulent parlors. It invites us to appreciate how everyday objects became canvases for artistic innovation during America's industrial boom.