Side Chair 1878 - 1882

This "Side Chair" was crafted by the Herter Brothers, a prominent furniture and decorating firm in New York during the late 19th century. The gilded side chair, ornamented with mother-of-pearl, epitomizes the aesthetic sensibilities of the Gilded Age. This was a period marked by rapid industrialization and vast wealth accumulation in the hands of a few, which was often achieved through the exploitation of labor. As one can see here, wealth was frequently expressed through elaborate displays of material culture. The Herter Brothers catered to this elite class, producing luxurious and highly ornamented furnishings. The opulence of the chair—its gilded surfaces and shimmering inlay—speaks to the desires of the upper class to proclaim its status and taste. Mother-of-pearl, sourced from faraway lands, adds to the chair’s exotic appeal, embodying the era’s fascination with global trade and cultural exchange. The chair serves as a reminder of the complex social dynamics and economic disparities that defined the era, and prompts us to reflect on the ways in which wealth and power are manifested through material objects.