Kimbel and Cabus (1863-1882). <em>Corner Chair (Modern Gothic style)</em>, ca. 1875. Painted soft maple, paper, gilding, copper alloy, rubber, modern textile, 27 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (69.9 × 47 × 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of DeLancey Thorn Grant in memory of her mother, Louise Floyd-Jones Thorn, by exchange, 1992.9. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Gavin Ashworth, 1992.9_GavinAshworth.jpg)

Kimbel and Cabus (1863-1882). Corner Chair (Modern Gothic style), ca. 1875. Painted soft maple, paper, gilding, copper alloy, rubber, modern textile, 27 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (69.9 × 47 × 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of DeLancey Thorn Grant in memory of her mother, Louise Floyd-Jones Thorn, by exchange, 1992.9. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Gavin Ashworth, 1992.9_GavinAshworth.jpg)

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Corner Chair (Modern Gothic style)

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, The United States on the World Stage, 1865–1930

This corner chair displays an arresting angularity that foreshadows abstract modern furniture design of the early twentieth century. British designer and theorist Christopher Dresser’s amusing grotesques inspired the fanciful motifs of paired mice and birds on the chair’s back, further amplifying its Modern Gothic vocabulary. As seen in the video in the previous room, the chair has been reupholstered with a period-appropriate textile for this exhibition.

DESIGNER AND MANUFACTURER Kimbel and Cabus, 1863-1882

MEDIUM Painted soft maple, paper, gilding, copper alloy, rubber, modern textile

Place Manufactured: New York, New York, United States

DATES ca. 1875

DIMENSIONS 27 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (69.9 × 47 × 47 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS Unmarked

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 1992.9

CREDIT LINE Bequest of DeLancey Thorn Grant in memory of her mother, Louise Floyd-Jones Thorn, by exchange

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Corner chair; ebonized wood and gilt-incised decoration and modern upholstery. Square seat with blue-green upholstery and black cord on square legs with chamfered edges raised on brass and wood casters. Seat rail on each of four sides with gilt incised rosettes centered a horizontally reeded panel. L-shaped back with square stiles chamfered on upper portion. Square profile L-shaped crest rail. Each of two back sections with turned baluster-shaped spindles flanking a recessed square panel with printed black and gold symmetrical heraldic designs. Proper right panel with paired mice; proper left with paired birds; images reversed on exterior back. Condition: Very good; re-ebonized and gilt-incised decoration repainted. Conservation report on file.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, The United States on the World Stage, 1865–1930

CAPTION Kimbel and Cabus (1863-1882). Corner Chair (Modern Gothic style), ca. 1875. Painted soft maple, paper, gilding, copper alloy, rubber, modern textile, 27 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 18 1/2 in. (69.9 × 47 × 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of DeLancey Thorn Grant in memory of her mother, Louise Floyd-Jones Thorn, by exchange, 1992.9. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Gavin Ashworth, 1992.9_GavinAshworth.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 1992.9_GavinAshworth.jpg. Gavin Ashworth, 2020

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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