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Fire Screen
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During the 1870s the New York firm of Herter Brothers produced some of the most sophisticated and technically refined furniture made anywhere in the world at that date. Although the firm is known to have made a considerable quantity of gilded furniture, this fire screen is one of only a few examples to survive in good condition. The painted and gilded embossed panel of birds and flowers was likely made in Japan.
| Artist / Maker | Herter Brothers |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1878–80 |
| Culture / Origin | America |
| Medium | gilded wood, painted and gilded wood panels, brocaded silk, embossed paper |
| Dimensions | Overall: 131.8 x 76.2 x 58.3 cm (51 7/8 x 30 x 22 15/16 in.) |
| Department | Decorative Art and Design |
| Type | Furniture and woodwork |
About the Artist
Christian Herter (1840-83). Born in Stuttgart. He studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris before joining his elder half-brother Gustave (1830-98) in New York in 1860. Gustave had been there since 1848 and had worked for Tiffany before founding his own furniture and decorations firm in 1857. In 1864 Christian returned to Paris to study under Pierre-Victor Gallard (1822-92) and in the early 1870s he was in England. Herter Brothers became a leading New York furniture and decorating… Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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