Door Hinge, Model #17

Rodolphe Christesen

Caption

Rodolphe Christesen. Door Hinge, Model #17, Patented January 13, 1880. Bronze, 8 3/4 x 7 x 5/8 in. (22.2 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Kenneth W. Cordova in memory of Robert DelMonaco, 1994.59.2. Creative Commons-BY

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Door Hinge, Model #17

Date

Patented January 13, 1880

Geography

Place manufactured: New Britain, Connecticut, United States

Medium

Bronze

Classification

Architectural Element

Dimensions

8 3/4 x 7 x 5/8 in. (22.2 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm)

Markings

Marked on reverse side of both plaques, impressed: "5 X 7 No. 17 / PAT. JAN 13th 1880."

Credit Line

Gift of Kenneth W. Cordova in memory of Robert DelMonaco

Accession Number

1994.59.2

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Frequent Art Questions

  • Can you tell me about this?

    This is in a style known as Aestheticism. It is highly decorative and draws inspiration from cultures that were considered "exotic" in the 19th century, such as Japan.
    The motto of the Aesthetic Movement was "Art for Art's Sake", which expressed the idea that objects should be as beautiful and artistic as possible, and did not need to convey a moralistic message or even serve a utilitarian function.
  • Tell me more.

    These objects are terrific examples of American design from the Aesthetic Movement. At this time, designers were strongly influenced by the art and design of Japan. The slogan for the Aesthetic Movement was "Art for Art's Sake." This meant that people could surround themselves with beautiful things without the expectation that it had to be moralistic or educational (as much art was earlier in the 1800s).
  • Tell me more.

    The door hinge has a Japanese-inspired scene depicted on either side. On one side of the hinge is a female geisha figure descending a bridge holding a parasol. In 1880, when this design was patented, many Americans had a fascination with Japanese design!

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