Armchair

ca. 1875

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 736

This gilded armchair is nearly identical to a pair of chairs Herter Brothers made for the White House in 1875, during Ulysses S. Grant’s administration. The reproduction blue brocade upholstery is based on a description in a bill for the commission. Skilled immigrant craftsmen were the lifeblood of New York City’s cabinetmaking business, and the Herter brothers epitomize an immigrant success story. Their furnishings informed style and taste not only for their affluent clientele but also for middle-class consumers seeking to emulate the grand interiors publicized in newspapers and magazines.

Artwork Details

Overview

Title: Armchair
Artist: Herter Brothers (German, active New York, 1864–1906)
Date: ca. 1875
Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Gilded wood (probably cherry, maple or ash), modern upholstery with original underupholstery materials
Dimensions: 28 1/4 x 28 x 20 1/4 in. (71.8 x 71.1 x 51.4 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Ann Pyne, 1999
Object Number: 1999.488
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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Portiere, Herter Brothers American, Silk velvet, cotton, wool, American — Portiere
Herter Brothers
ca. 1878–80

Ottoman, Herter Brothers American, Rosewood (secondary woods: cedar, chestnut), leather, replacement upholstery, American — Ottoman
Herter Brothers
ca. 1881–82

Side Chair

Herter Brothers

ca. 1878

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