Chair

Daniel Pabst American, born Germany

ca. 1870–80

Not on view

These chairs are attributed to Daniel Pabst, an émigré craftsman who came from Germany to the United States in 1849, coincident with a great influx of immigrants fleeing political strife and economic hardship in Europe. He established a successful cabinetmaking and woodwork business in Philadelphia, maintaining a workshop in Philadelphia until his retirement in 1896. Pabst is best known for his work in the Modern Gothic style. His firm produced distinct bespoke work for an elite clientele in Philadelphia and New York’s most prominent families. These chairs exemplify Pabst’s work in the Modern Gothic style of the 1870s, which drew upon British reform theory and the designs of Bruce J. Talbert, Christopher Dresser, and Charles Locke Eastlake, especially in their incorporation of architectural shapes, low-relief carving of stylized foliate motifs, lion masks, and lion’s paw feet.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Title: Chair
Maker: Daniel Pabst (American, born Germany 1826–1910 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Date: ca. 1870–80
Geography: Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Walnut, leather and cloth upholstery
Dimensions: 45 × 21 1/2 × 21 5/8 in. (114.3 × 54.6 × 54.9 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Foundation Gift, 2019
Object Number: 2019.121.1
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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In the same medium

From the same time and place

Cabinet, Daniel Pabst American, born Germany, Walnut, maple, white pine, glass, American — Cabinet
Attributed to Daniel Pabst
Designer Attributed to Frank Furness
ca. 1873–76

Sauceboat, Anthony Rasch American, Silver, American — Sauceboat
Anthony Rasch
ca. 1815

Side chair, Solid beech wood (front and side rails), solid pine wood (back splat, supporting middle seat rail and corner blocks), solid walnut (legs), walnut veneer. Upholstery materials: drop-in seat frame of plywood, webbing, modern black enameled springs, cotton wadding, jute spring cover cloth, filling, a cover cloth and the show-cover, blued tacks. (The seat is a recent fabrication.), Austrian — Side chair
Austrian
ca. 1820–30

Side chair, Daniel Pabst American, born Germany, Walnut, burled maple, later leather upholstery, American — Side chair
Daniel Pabst
ca. 1873

Side chair, Solid beech wood (front and side rails), solid pine wood (supporting middle seat rail), solid walnut (legs), walnut and burr walnut veneer. Upholstery materials: drop-in seat frame of plywood, webbing, modern black enameled springs, cotton wadding, jute spring cover cloth, filling, a cover cloth and the show-cover, blued metal tacks. (The seat is a recent fabrication.), Austrian — Side chair
Austrian
ca. 1820–30

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