Charles Rohlfs was one of the most skillful yet enigmatic American furniture makers of the late 19th century. His fascinating inspiration from varied sources, including Japan, China, the Middle East, and medieval and Renaissance Europe, resulted in a rich assortment of tables, chairs, chests, candlesticks and the like, all distinguished by the quality of their hand craftsmanship. A modernist in his sensibilities, Rohlfs indirectly endorsed the Arts and Crafts’ tenets of honest workmanship and truth to materials and the Art Nouveau’s obsession with the whiplash line.
The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs pulls largely from the unpublished Charles Rohlfs archives and furniture from both private and public collections.
