The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Maercklein, Hermann A. W.

Title: Designs and photographs

Dates: ca.1870-ca.1890

Call No.: Col. 305

Acc. No.: 72x360, 94x115, 94x116

Quantity: 2 boxes

Location: 17 J 4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Hermann Maercklein was an upholsterer. Born in 1826 in Stettin, Pomerania, he completed his apprenticeship there in 1847. Just as the Revolution of 1848 began, Maercklein fled to the United States. He was married in New York City in 1851 and first appears in the Hartford, Connecticut, city directory as an upholsterer in 1853. He remained in business under various partnerships or by himself until 1911. Maercklein aspired to the status of decorator and had a cabinet shop, upholstery shop, and drapery shop all in the same building. He made numerous sketches for elaborate window treatments. The high point of his career was his invention of upholstered seating furniture that converted into a bed, "Simplicity." Maercklein died on June 1, 1921.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection consists of pencil sketches for window treatments and furniture, presumably drawn by Maercklein; photographs of furniture and furniture frames, perhaps purchased by Maercklein from other furniture manufactures, including Hall & Garrison, Kilian Brothers, Fisher & Brother, G.E. Sparman, and Henry I. Seymour; carte de visites of Maercklein's couches and sofa beds; and plates from Desire Guilmard's influential and widely copied journal Le Garde-meuble, as well as plates from other publications.

ORGANIZATION

The collection is organized into three series: Pencil sketches, Photographs, and Plates.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English, French, and German.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

72x360: purchased from Avis and Rockwell Gardiner.

94x115 and 94x116: provenance unknown.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Guilmard, Désiré, b. 1810.

Seymour, Henry I.

Topics:

Hall & Garrison.

Kilian Brothers.

Fisher & Brother.

G.E. Sparman.

Decoration and ornament.

Interior decoration.

Furniture industry and trade - United States.

Upholstered furniture.

Furniture - Photographs.

Furniture - Drawings.

Chairs.

Window shades.

Curtain walls.

Furniture - France.

Drapery.

Sketches.

Photographic prints.

Upholsterers.

Interior decorators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 17 J 4

Note: all accession numbers begin with 72x360, unless otherwise noted.

Series I: Pencil sketches

Box 1:

Folder 1:

.66 Sketch of ornate window treatment with valence and tiebacks;

verso: printed letter about insurance, in German, dated 1872.

.67 Rough sketches of drapes and valences on both sides of the page

.68 Top tier (with note: 5 feet from ground, first tier) for a tiered platform, with banners, flags, and a small statue (sketch on piece of cardboard, perhaps cover of a book)

.69 Sketch of drapes, on the back of a billhead for H. Maercklein & Co., upholsterers and dealers in furniture, etc., Hartford, Conn.; itemized cost of a window treatment is on the billhead side of this piece of paper

.70 Pen and ink drawing of drapes, on both sides of the page

.71 Pencil sketches of curtains, on both sides of page (one sketch more finished than the other)

.72 Drapes, on both sides of the page, one to be in green repp

.73 Valence

Folder 2:

.74 Drawing of chair, from side (partial drawing only) and from back(?)

.75 Secretary, with glass front doors on upper part

.76 Curtains, on both sides of the page, one estimated to cost $26-30

.77 recto: Window treatment for a parlor, part done in ink, part in pencil

verso: sketch of a curtain

.79 recto: upholstered sofa, style II

verso: sketches of designs for top of a piece of furniture

.80 Valences and drapes, on both sides of the page, one with notes about yardage needed

.81 Valances and drapes, on both sides of the page

.82 Valance

.83 Two upholstered chairs, one with arms, the other without, style II

Folder 3:

94x115 recto: sketch for an elaborate window treatment, labeled “No. 1, Design by H. Maercklein”

verso: very rough preliminary sketch of a valance

94x116 recto: sketch of a window treatment, labeled Roemer, with notes about yardage needed, on Hartford Life & Annuity Insurance Co. stationery

verso: sketch of a window treatment, with notes about yardage

Box 2, folder 1:

.78 Pencil and wash drawing of an upholstered sofa and chair, style I

Series II: Photographs

Box 1:

Folder 4:

.1-2 Stereopticon views of inlaid furniture manufactured by Fisher & Brother, New York, N.Y.

(.1 – two pedestals and a console; .2 – table)

Folder 5:

.3-.5 photos of sofa frame. Photographed by Olsen, Hartford, Ct. (same as .7-.9)

Folder 6:

.6-.6a photos of a sofa frame, labeled "Simplicity patent Oct. 4, 1881." Photographed by Olsen, Hartford, Ct.

[no number] photocopy of patent for the above sofa, which converted into a bed

Folder 7:

.7-.9 photos of sofa frame. Photographed by Olsen, Hartford, Ct. (same as .3-.5)

Folder 8:

.10 Decorative cabinet, photographed by Fred Ulrich of New York. There is an outline of a cabinet on the back.

.11 Stools and pedestals, patented Oct. 10, 1871 and Aug. 8, 1872.

.11a Frames of two arm chairs, No. 22. Rough pencil sketch of a chair on the back.

Folder 9:

.12-12a Cyanotypes of couch frames, with variations of backs traced in pencil, from G. E. Sparman, manufacturer of fine furniture frames, New York City

Folder 10: Cartes-de-visite photographs of chairs with depictions on both sides of the card.

.13 chairs with cane seats: one labeled "Grecian Ball" and the other "Grecian Bannister.”

.14 Frame "American scroll for upholstering" and the other side show the upholstered chair.

.15 Stools

.16 Caned rocking chairs: "Grecian Nurse" and "French arm nurse"

.17 Caned chairs: “French dining” and "Reception," both by H.S. Spendiz

.18 Caned chairs: "Excelsior Ball" and "Excelsior Bannister" (see also .26)

.19 Frame for upholstery and a short arm dining chair (with cane seat).

.20 Children's cane seats (one high chair, a low chair, and a rocking chair) and Seymour Windsor chair

.21 Upholstered dining chair and cane seat short arm dining chair

.22 Cane seat library chair and library chair for upholstering

.23 Chair for upholstery and "Saratoga dining chair" (with cane seat)

.24 Two views of a folding chair

.25 Library chair (with cane seat) and chair for upholstery

.26 Caned chairs: "Excelsior Ball" and "Excelsior Bannister" (different views from those in .18)

Folder 11:

.27 China closet or bookcase manufactured by Mayer & Hagen, photographed by Excelsior Mercantile Photograph Co., New York

.28 Two caned chairs, one with short arms, and the other with regular arms

Folder 12:

.29 arm chair with cane seat, probably by Henry I. Seymour, photo by Schoonmaker & Burgess, Troy, N.Y.

.30 three swivel chairs by Henry I. Seymour, chair manufactory, Troy, N.Y., photo by Schoonmaker & Burgess, Troy

Folder 13:

.31 “Revolving chairs with patent spring for reclining,” manufactured by the Kilian Brothers, New York, N.Y. Prices on the back.

.32-33 Chairs and tables manufactured by the Kilian Brothers

Folder 14:

.34-36a Couch and chair frames manufactured by Hofstatter's Sons, New York, N.Y.

Folder 15:

.37 Album featuring photographs of furniture and decorative pieces. The first photograph is of Kilian Brothers' patented folding chairs, suggesting that other objects in it may be attributed to the firm. Forms depicted include frames, pedestals, tables, caned chairs, music stands, footstools, hanging wall pockets, easels, plant stands, etc. There are initials written in pen under the objects. A stamp on the back page bears Maercklein's name.

Folders 16-17:

.38-64 Photographs of grilles, friezes, cornices (for curtains), etc. produced by Hall & Garrison, Philadelphia, Pa. Each includes a number and dimensions.

Series III: Plates

Note: Unless otherwise specified, the plates are from Le Garde-Meuble published by Desire Guilmard. They are from Collection de Tentures (hangings), Collection de Meubles (furnishings), or Collection de Sieges (furniture). Captions are in French. The plates are in color, unless otherwise noted.

Box 1

Folder 18:

.65b-d Plates showing walls and window treatments designed and manufactured by Morgan Furniture Co., Buffalo, N.Y. (in black and white)

Box 2

Folder 2:

.84 No. 108. Dining Room

Folder 3

.85 No. 110. Tops of two window treatments.

Folder 4

.86 No. 194. Wall with drapes around a door in a salon (portiere de salon)

Folder 5

.87 No. 479. Looking glass and marble top table in Louis XV style, made by Bourdon Aine

Folder 6

.88 No. 488. Upholstered arm chair and matching side chair; with a pencil sketch of a curtain on the reverse

Folder 7.

.89 No. 578. Window with drapes, decorative painted shade, and upholstered bench.

Folder 8

.90 No. 584. Four models of decorated screens in the Louis XIII, XIV, XV, and XVI styles.

Folder 9

.91 No. 587. Decoration for casement windows with drapes and a table on which sits a fancy bird cage, the whole scheme noted as being in the Greek revival style, although it is rather ornate

Folder 10

.92 No. 589. Decoration for a round window in the foyer of a theater, with a bust sitting on a pedestal. Dimensions are written in pencil.

Folder 11

.93 No. 1152. Upholstered sofa in Louis XIII style.

Folder 12

.94 No. 1153. Arm chair and two side chairs (one of which matches the arm chair).

Folder 13

.95 No. 1154. Two upholstered chairs (one with arms) and one caned chair, in Louis XIII style

Folder 14

.96 No. 1155. China cabinet (buffet de sale a manger) in the Louis XIII style.

Folder 15

.97 No. 1157. Service table and oval top dining table, in Louis XIII style.

Folder 16

.98 No. 1160. Four arm chairs in Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and Greek revival styles.

Folder 17

.99 No. 1161. Bed frame in the Louis XVI style, made by Gallais

Folder 18

.100 No. 1162. Wardrobe with mirrored door, in Louis XVI style, made by Gallais.

Folder 19

.101 No. 1163. Commode with mirror and shelves, in Louis XVI style, made by Gallais.

Folder 20

.102 No. 1165. Sofa and chair, with cane seats, in Chinese style, made by Geny

Folder 21

.103 No. 1167. Dressing table with looking glass and a night table, made by Gallais.

Folder 22

.104. No. 1164. Three chairs that are connected (siege a trios places), in Chinese style, made by Geny.

Folder 23

.105 No. 1168. Two looking glasses, on frames, to stand on floor (psyches).

Folder 24

.106 No. 1170. Louis XIII style sofa, with leather upholstery.

Folder 25

.107 No. 1171. Arm chair, matching side chair, and a foot stool, all upholstered, in the Louis XIII style.

Folder 26

.108 No. 1172. Three dining room chairs, made by Vrignaud, Terral, and Pitteti

Folder 27

.109 No. 1173. Canopy bed in the Louis XIII style.

Folder 28

.110 No. 1174. Wardrobe in the Louis XIII style, made by Vrignaud, Terral, and Pitteti.

Folder 29

.111 No. 1176. Louis XVI style sofa.

Folder 30

.112 No. 1177. One arm chair and two side chairs, to match sofa in folder 29, in the Louis XVI style.

Folder 31

.113 No. 1179. Marble topped table with mirror in the Louis XVI style.

Folder 32

.114 No. 1180. Marquetry cabinet with marble top in the Louis XVI style, made by Duret et Cherier.

Folder 33

.115 No. 1181. Louis XVI style marquetry table, to coordinate with cabinet in folder 32, made by Duret et Cherier.

Folder 34

.116 No. 1182. Louis XVI style sofa.

Folder 35

.117 No. 1185. Two china or display cabinets, one in style of Louis XIV and the other in style of Louis XVI, available with or without upper cabinet

Folder 36

.118 No. 1186. Four tables to be used as flower stands, in different styles: Renaissance, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Greek Revival.

Folder 37

.119 No. 1187. Wardrobe.

Folder 38

.120-123 Celestin Allard designed window treatments with pencil sketches on the back of .121 and .122.

Folder 39

.124-125 M. Frommonn designed window treatments and furniture (wardrobe, wash stand, top of a bed?) for the bedroom. Captions in German. In black and white.