Maker/Retailer Biography

Herter Brothers

Dates: c. 1851-1906

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Luxury decorators and cabinet-makers founded in New York by Gustave Herter (1830-98), a native of Stuttgart in Germany. Gustave worked for Tiffany for three years after arriving in the USA, and participated in the 1853 New York International Exhibition. His half-brother Christian (1840-83) joined Gustave in 1865, at which time the name Herter Brothers was adopted. From 1870 until his early death in 1883 from tuberculosis, Christian, who had had a Beaux-Arts training, was the artistic driving force behind the firm. He had visited England, travelling to Birmingham, Manchester and London in the early 1870s, and had absorbed the ideas of E.W. Godwin, B.J. Talbert and other members of the design reform movement; he had probably also visited major manufacturers. As well as the Japonisme inspired by these English encounters and a brief spell with Tiffany in the early 1860s, the Herter firm specialized in impressive Renaissance and classical revival schemes for millionaire patrons. They employed several designers, among whom were A. Sandier, who went on to Sevres, and W. Kimbel. They did not exhibit at Philadelphia in 1876, owing to reorganization of the firm. Nor did they have their own stand in Paris in 1878; but they did design and supply the stand for Tiffany's new wares, which caused a sensation.