Pedestal
Artist
Kilian Brothers
(American, active 1856 - 1920)
Datec. 1870
MediumWalnut, bronze, patinated metal, gilding, paint
DimensionsOverall: 39 × 14in. (99.1 × 35.6cm)
ClassificationsFURNISHINGS
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, in part with funds from Mrs. Arnold Gingrich
Terms
Object number92.2
On View
On viewCollections
Copyright<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/80x15.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.
Label TextKilian Brothers, a prosperous family operation, utilized steam power by 1869, a relatively early date in New York City for the application of this source of energy. By 1870 the firm employed as many as 110 hands and occupied several buildings. A report on the company's display at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition summarizes its production: "As extensive use of machinery is made in their manufacture . . . the goods are . . . within reach of people of moderate means who have a taste for the ornamental."
To carve a niche in the highly competitive trade, Kilian Brothers catered to thriving, middle-class consumers who wanted to add stylish, modern, furniture accessories to their rooms at moderate expense. Consequently, the company's catalogue pages are saturated with heavily adorned accessories such as this pedestal and worktable (to your left). Their surfaces are laced with gilded lines, ebonized elements, polychrome details, and metal mounts-all fanciful interpretations of Greek and Egyptian motifs associated with the néo-grec style.
ATD
