Artwork
Wardrobe
Artist
Christain Schuette
(American, born Germany, 1839 - 1926)
DepartmentAmerican Art
CultureChappell Hill, Texas
Dateca.1865
MediumYellow pine and bone
Dimensionsh. 83 in. (210.8 cm)
w. 51 in. (129.5 cm)
d. 22 in. (55.9 cm)
w. 51 in. (129.5 cm)
d. 22 in. (55.9 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Faith and Charles Bybee
Object number92.60.6
GeographyPlace madePhillipsburg, Texas
DescriptionLabel TextThe wardrobe was an essential piece of furniture in nineteenth century Texas houses due to the absence of built-in closets. It was among the most expensive pieces of furniture made by a cabinetmaker, and was often his signature piece displaying his ability and artistry. In this example, the heritage of the maker is evident in the overall style and composition of the wardrobe derived from the traditional schrank form common in Germany and also prevalent in Pennsylvania German households. This wardrobe reflects the influence of the Biedermeier style with its simplicity of form, absence of excessive ornamentation, purity of line, and use of light colored woods. The skill of an accomplished artisan is evident in the design and construction of this wardrobe seen in the restrained addition of decorative moldings, the faux panel on the base, and the chamfered, carved corners. The large, applied, carved ornamental form on the doors is an unusual decorative motif in Texas furniture but suggests the simplified ornament typical of the Biedermeier aesthetic.
(Label text, 2008 - Louisa D. Bartlett, Decorative arts consultant based in Mendenhall, Pennsylvania)
As settlers flocked to Texas during its incarnations as a republic and then a state, the need for furniture grew along with the population. The cost of importing furniture from other parts of the United States or Europe was prohibitive; thus, 19th century Texans often designed and built to suit their own needs, relying especially on the influx of craftsmen from Germany. Although the forms of Texas furniture closely resemble case and seating furniture used elsewhere, they are made of woods native to the state such as pine and walnut, and are embellished with less expensive decorations, such as simpler porcelain pulls for drawers. The objects on view were once owned by Houstonian Faith L. Bybee, a passionate collector of American furniture and decorative arts who embraced the styles of her native state as well as examples of design from the Eastern Seaboard.
(Texas Gallery, 2018)ProvenancePhillipsburg, TexasExhibition History"VOLKSKUNST: German-American Folk Art from Pennsylvania and Texas," organized by San Antonio Museum in conjunction with the Reading Public Museum. Curated by Louisa D. Bartlett, Guest Curator of Arts of the Pennsylvania Germans at the Reading Public Museum, and co-curated by Nancy Fullerton, Assistant Curator of Latin American Art at the San Antonio Museum of Art. October 4, 2008 - January 18, 2009. "Furniture on the Texas Frontier, 1840-1900: Furnishings from Historic Round Top," Dallas Museum of Art. (September 28-November 30, 1986)
On view
Collections
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
