The Belter Sidechair
1858

Rococo revival
Shown here with its original February 23, 1858, patent label attached, this Belter sidechair is a rococo revival-style miniature in rosewood, standing less than a foot high. The chair back is composed of six thin staves cut and molded so that they form a bulge or spheroid at the center. The chair's manufacturer, German immigrant John Henry Belter, had an interesting description for this laminated wood surface bulging in two directions: he called it "dishing pressed work."

	Patent no. 19,405; February 23, 1858; transferred from U.S. Patent Office, 964
	Wood (rosewood), finish (varnish), paper, textile, metal
	11-13/16" high x 6-14" wide x 7-3/4 deep
	John Henry Belter (1804-1863); immigrated to United States, 1833
	Web display only

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