Lot Essay
The motifs employed in this bed are seen in several other Herter Brothers forms, including a center table stamped HERTER BROS. with square and gilt-incised supports and turned button finials, illustrated and discussed in Howe, et al., Herter Brothers: Furniture and Interiors for a Gilded Age (Houston, 1994), pp.172-173, fig.22. A brand similar to that on the siderail of this bed is illustrated in Herter Brothers..., pp.224, cat. no. 18.
A related bed made for Arabella Worsham Huntington is illustrated and discussed in Howe, et al, Herter Brothers..., pp.198-199, fig. 36. A second related bed, illustrated adn discussed in Johnson, et al, 19th Century America: Furniture and Other Decorative Arts (New York, 1970), fig. 211, may also provide a prototype for the original appearance of the bed illustrated here, with shaped brackets joining the siderails and headpost, and carved and inlaid posts defining the footboard.
A related bed made for Arabella Worsham Huntington is illustrated and discussed in Howe, et al, Herter Brothers..., pp.198-199, fig. 36. A second related bed, illustrated adn discussed in Johnson, et al, 19th Century America: Furniture and Other Decorative Arts (New York, 1970), fig. 211, may also provide a prototype for the original appearance of the bed illustrated here, with shaped brackets joining the siderails and headpost, and carved and inlaid posts defining the footboard.