Side Chair

The New York City decorating firm Herter Brothers produced some of the most sumptuous furniture of the second half of the nineteenth century for such wealthy clients as Mark Hopkins, William Vanderbilt, and Jay Gould. They worked on commission but also produced pieces that were sold out of their retail shop. The graphite inscription, "Store," on the inside of the rear rail of this chair indicates that it was produced for stock. When Christian Herter joined the partnership in 1864, he introduced Japanese stylistic elements into their designs. The Japanese references on this chair include its ebonized finish, architecturally inspired fretwork, and a carved plaque of flying swallows against a gilded ground.