Steer Horn Armchair
Artist unknown (American, 19th century)
Although furniture made from the horns of steer, elk, and deer is rooted in European tradition, it reached the height of popularity in America in the 1880s. Not only did chairs like this one evoke the romanticism and pioneering spirit of the American West, they also employed innovative, exotic materials that were prized during the Aesthetic movement. Lavishly upholstered, this diminutive example was most likely intended for a parlor.