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Cabinet

Decorative Arts and Design

Herter Brothers was the most prestigious decorating firm and furniture maker in the United States of its time. This cabinet was made for George B. Sloan, the richest man in Oswego, New York. Its form closely follows that of an example produced by the Lamb cabinetmaking firm in Manchester, England, of which Herter Brothers must have been aware. The large painted panels representing Spring and Autumn, and the smaller ones of Taurus and Leo, were probably executed by Christian Herter, a principal of the firm.
MEDIUM Ebonized cherry, other woods, glass, brass, pigment
DATES ca. 1872
DIMENSIONS 42 3/8 x 66 x 16 3/4in. (107.6 x 167.6 x 42.5cm)  (show scale)
MARKINGS Stamped on back: "HERTER BRO'S."; inscribed in pencil on back in script: "N67 Slone Esq. Oswego"
SIGNATURE no signature
INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions
ACCESSION NUMBER 76.63a-f
CREDIT LINE H. Randolph Lever Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Cabinet, ebonized cherry, painted and inlaid decoration, glass doors, incised and gilt decoration. Sunken center section has single glazed door with gilt and ebonized frame. Square and linear gilt and inlay decoration across the top of door, turned railing across bottom of door. Backsplash on back of top of center section inlaid with stylized daisy and branch. Front side sections each have inset panel with gilt border and painted with female figures, proper right facing left, proper left facing right. Above each panel are inlaid daisy and leaf motifs and beneath a flowerpot with daisies and leaves inlaid. Bottom of each door is shaped in suspended semi-circle. Inset horizontal metal plate above each side door flanked with inlaid daisies. Proper right panel painted with figure of bull with leaves and stars and gilt background. Proper left panel painted with figure of lion with stars, leaves and gilt background. Brass cut-out railing runs across back of top and on either side of top flanking sections. Eight turned wooden feet, ebonized, incised and gilt. Sub-lettered: (a) Cabinet; (b) Center shelf; (c) Shelf, proper left; (d) Shelf, proper right; (e) Key, brass; (f) Key, brass (e and f keys fit both side and central doors.) Condition: White paint drip on female figure on proper right side. Some paint loss on lion and bull. Various nicks and scratches (minor) throughout; finish worn and faded on top. Back proper left leg broken off and repaired.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Herter Brothers (American, 1865–1905). Cabinet, ca. 1872. Ebonized cherry, other woods, glass, brass, pigment, 42 3/8 x 66 x 16 3/4in. (107.6 x 167.6 x 42.5cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 76.63a-f. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 76.63a-f_top_bw_IMLS.jpg)
IMAGE top, 76.63a-f_top_bw_IMLS.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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