Side chair 1865 - 1875

Editor: We're looking at a "Side Chair" by Herter Brothers, made sometime between 1865 and 1875. It's currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's made with wood and what looks like mixed media and gilding. The gold leaf paired with that teal fabric gives off such a formal vibe. What stands out to you when you examine the chair? Curator: The immediate formal quality I perceive arises from its restrained verticality and precise symmetry. Consider the careful placement of decorative elements: the repeating motifs of gilded foliage, the oval inset, even the fluted legs – all contribute to a visual harmony. How does the relationship between these decorative elements and the overall structure affect your understanding of its function as a chair? Editor: I guess I hadn’t thought about how the decoration relates to the structure itself. Now I see how the eye is drawn upwards, accentuating the vertical lines, almost diminishing its functionality. It becomes more of an art object than something to sit on, perhaps. Curator: Precisely. Consider how the gilded details function as framing devices, drawing attention to particular structural elements, thus reinforcing a sense of order. Does this calculated ornamentation alter your perception of its materiality, the way the wood seems almost subservient to the surface embellishment? Editor: It does. The gilding definitely elevates the wood, almost obscuring its natural qualities. I'm starting to see how every choice reinforces that initial formal impression. Thanks, I see the work in a completely different light now. Curator: And that interplay between form and function, materiality and ornament, offers a rich avenue for further formal investigation. This initial visual analysis lays the groundwork for a more contextual understanding of the Herter Brothers' artistic practice.