Bookcase, 1852–1853. Designed by Gustave Herter; carved by Ernst Plassmann; manufactured by Bulkley and Herter. White oak, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, yellow poplar and later stained glass. Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust; through exchanges of various gifts, the bequest of Helen F. Spencer; and other Trust properties.
In 1853, two years after the first international exposition of arts and industries took place in London, American manufacturers announced their sophistication and prominence in the world marketplace with their own fair in New York City. Displayed there, this monumental bookcase is carved with intricate Gothic spires, arches, buttresses and figures dressed in medieval costumes representing the arts of sculpture, painting, music and architecture. Gustave Herter, who had only recently arrived in the United States, brought with him the latest fashions from Germany. The 1853 exhibition catalogue credited the partnership of Herter with the more established cabinetmaker Erastus Bulkley for the bookcase’s impressive design and skilled execution.
