Armchair 1875

Curator: This elegant armchair, dating back to 1875, comes to us from the renowned Herter Brothers and resides here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Exuberance, actually! The golden frame contrasted with that floral tapestry…it almost feels decadent. Curator: It's interesting that you perceive it that way. Focusing on form, I see a deliberate juxtaposition. The rigid lines of the chair’s structure play against the curvilinear forms woven into the upholstery, creating visual tension. Editor: Ah, but doesn’t the chair practically whisper about high society? Gold is an enduring symbol of wealth. Its embrace around a light blue, almost dreamlike tapestry—aren't we peeking into an idealized world? Curator: Perhaps. Though the interplay of light and shadow created by the tassels certainly contribute to an illusion of depth, don't you think? Editor: Definitely, it draws the eye down, making it feel grounded despite its ornate features. Tassels also function as a traditional symbol of status. In the past, tassels were considered symbols of wealth and power as they were typically only included in noble families' clothing. This element really exemplifies status in terms of symbolisms! Curator: True! What you just expressed touches upon how material properties, when interwoven with structure, serve to construct meaning, right? The Herter Brothers' conscious choices evoke that particular meaning. Editor: Precisely! It makes me consider who would have sat in this chair. The chair form and symbolic details, in general, act as markers for their personal narrative or some sort. Curator: Considering the principles behind semiotics, we can unravel deeper structures within this ‘Armchair.’ An intentional language woven into its every element. Editor: Agreed. It is more than just an object; it embodies status, dreamscapes and perhaps even, the spirit of a gilded age.