Side Chair 1870 - 1875

This "Side Chair" was created by the Pottier and Stymus Manufacturing Company, a firm that operated in New York from 1859 to 1906. It exemplifies the American taste for incorporating exotic and ancient motifs into modern design. The chair is adorned with Egyptian-inspired carvings and upholstery, reflecting the Egyptomania that swept through Western culture in the 19th century. This fascination often romanticized and appropriated Egyptian symbols, intertwining them with contemporary aesthetics and understandings of power and luxury. The chair invites us to consider how cultures borrow and reinterpret historical and exotic elements to create new meanings. Consider the cultural and historical implications of adopting such imagery. How does this blend of styles reflect the societal values and aspirations of the time? It’s interesting to see how design can embody both admiration and appropriation.