Étagère
This étagère incorporates finely carved panels of pierced teakwood produced by the Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company, which was formed in India in 1881 by the artist and designer Lockwood de Forest during his business partnership with Louis C. Tiffany. De Forest founded the company to revive and preserve the crafts of the mistri of Ahmedabad, a subcaste of skilled stone and wood carvers whose traditions he perceived to be disappearing in the face of modernity. The intricate foliate patterns are representative of the large number of teak panels that he imported to America and integrated into various furniture forms and architectural elements.
Artwork Details
- Title: Étagère
- Maker: Possibly made by Lockwood de Forest (American, New York 1850–1932 Santa Barbara, California)
- Maker: Panels made by Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company
- Date: ca. 1885
- Geography: Made in Ahmedabad, India; Probably made in New York, New York, United States
- Culture: American and Indian
- Medium: Mahogany, teak, satinwood, copper, silk, cotton, and coral
- Dimensions: 70 × 38 1/2 × 17 in. (177.8 × 97.8 × 43.2 cm)
- Credit Line: Purchase, Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Foundation Gift, 2016
- Object Number: 2016.49
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.