Armchair
1865–70
Medium
Rosewood, marquetry, gilt
Dimensions
34 5/8 x 25 x 26 3/4 in. (87.9 x 63.5 x 67.9 cm)
Classification
Armchair
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Paul Martini, 1972
Accession Number
1972.76
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of Gilded Age America with this exquisite *Armchair* crafted by the Herter Brothers around 1865–70. Renowned New York cabinetmakers of German origin, the Herter firm—led by brothers Gustave and Christian—specialized in luxurious furniture for America's elite, including tycoons like the Vanderbilts. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, exemplifies their mastery during the post-Civil War boom, when industrial wealth fueled a demand for grand interiors blending European grandeur with emerging American tastes. Fashioned from rich rosewood ...