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Working in the common styles of the period, Gustave rose to prominence
COMMON SENSE with his early individual pieces. However, it wasn’t until his younger half-
brother Christian, born in Stuttgart in 1840, left Germany and joined his
ANTIQUES brother’s business in 1864, that the Herter name really took off. Christian
assumed control of the business in 1870 and was solely in charge until he

By Fred Taylor retired in 1880. Herter Brothers took advantage of the change in direction
in American furniture, abandoning Rococo Revival and making a name in
the new Renaissance Revival period. After the Exposition in Philadelphia in
1876, the Herters concentrated on the Japanese influence in the Aesthetic
GERMAN INNOVATION Movement.

But the Herter Brothers’ main contribution to American furnishings was
19th Century Contributions in the complete decorative schemes, developed mainly by Christian, which
they used to create the look of astonishing opulence for their clients such as
Political turmoil is seldom something to be thankful for, Vanderbilt, Morgan, Gould, Crocker and others of the Gilded Age
but it sometimes produces positive results. The political millionaires. Herter Brothers at its height employed over
unrest in Germany in the middle of the 19th century 600 craftsmen and designers and Christian registered
had a profoundly positive effect on American 14 patterns of wallpaper with the U.S. Patent Office in
furniture construction and design for the next 1879 alone. Herter Brothers brought a combination
fifty years. of craftsmanship, uncompromising quality and
A very large number of German exquisite original taste to American home
craftspeople made their way to America furnishings that had had not been realized
in the 19th century but four in particular until that time. Christian died of consumption
stand out in the furniture field - John Henry in 1883 followed by Gustave in 1898. The
Belter, George Hunzinger and Gustave and firm continued until 1907.
Christian Herter. GEORGE HUNZINGER— Hunzinger,
JOHN HENRY BELTER— Born in born in 1835, made his way to New York
Germany in 1804, Belter made his way to in 1855, empty handed but not empty
New York where he opened a cabinet shop headed, the 200-year-old family tradition
in 1844 at 401/2 Chatham Square. Within of cabinetmaking. He opened a shop in
a couple of years, he moved to Broadway 1866 and moved to Seventh Avenue in
along what would become “furniture row” Manhattan in 1870. Hunzinger’s approach
in Manhattan. In the 1850s he opened his to furniture making and styling was almost
factory at 3rd Avenue and 76th St. Belter completely the opposite of Belter’s.
worked in America at the height of the Hunzinger was very much involved in the
Rococo Revival period represented by the evolving technology of the second half of
flowing, flowery, sinuously overdone style the century and his concepts were those of
employed to recreate the lavishness of the the engineer. He incorporated the style into
18th century French court. the technology rather than the technology
Belter took the style to a new pinnacle using into the style. He allowed the machinery to do
a technique he had learned in Germany based This is called the “Lollipop” chair, de- the work and concentrated on fitting the pieces
on the work of Michael Thonet, the Austrian signed by George Hunzinger. You can together in a series of unique forms. Commonly
cabinetmaker who perfected a method for see the influence of technology in the perceived as the father of the modern folding
laminating and bending layers of wood into design of the elements. chair, which he is of course, Hunzinger’s forward
unusual forms. Belter used the idea to create thinking anticipated modern manufacturing
some of the most striking seating and cabinetry techniques, turning out interchangeable parts for
ever seen. While he did not invent the laminating chairs and tables and his “mix and match” approach to
process, he did receive a number of patents for his ideas involving steaming wood choices, accessories and upholstery presaged the modern furniture
the laminated layers in cawls or molds to produce thin surfaces that were showroom. His marketing plan was equally modern. Each piece produced in
curved in two planes and were incredibly strong. The strength of the Hunzinger’s 50 employee factory was impressed, tagged or labeled with the
laminated material allowed Belter to produce the elaborate pierced carvings maker’s name, establishing an identity in the marketplace.
that decorated formal drawing rooms across the country, including that of From 1860 to his sudden death in 1898, Hunzinger accumulated 21
Abraham Lincoln, in patterns called “Rosalie”, “Rosalie Without Grapes”, technical patents for his “furniture in motion” techniques. You can thank
“Tuthill King”, “Henry Clay” and the “Bird” among many others. George Hunzinger, the German immigrant, for your comfortable, adjustable
While Belter was not the only cabinetmaker turning out Rococo Revival recliner.
pierce-carved masterpieces (Meeks, Boudine, Jellif and Mallard also come The 19th century was an exciting time in the history of American furniture
to mind) he consistently took the form to the extreme, in the highest quality and these craftsmen, fleeing from political trouble in their own country,
and his name is most closely associated with the genre. After Belter’s death made great contributions to the craft in style, design and technology in their
in 1864, his business was operated by his in-laws, the Springmeiers, before new country.
closing for good in 1867. Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or
GUSTAVE and CHRISTIAN - THE HERTER BROTHERS— Gustave Herter, born email them to me at info@furnituredetective.com
in Germany in 1830, fled the impending revolution in Germany in 1848. Like Visit Fred’s website www.furnituredetective.com and check out the downloadable “Common
Hunzinger, he arrived in America already fully trained as cabinetmaker and Sense Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE” is now
available for $18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money order for $21.95 to Fred Taylor,
ready to go to work. In 1851 he opened his furniture shop in Manhattan but PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
unlike so many before him, he stayed away from downtown and made the Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00
most fortuitous choice of his life by opening in the neighborhood that would + $3.00 S&H) are also available at the same address. For more information call (800) 387-6377
soon be home to Macy’s, the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Lord & Taylor and Tiffany. (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@furnituredetective.com.
All items are also available directly from the website, www.furnituredetective.com