Figure 1  Photograph showing the interior of the Potthast shop with (left to right) William, Vincent, Theodore, and John Potthast and their accountant (standing), Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1903. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 2  Potthast Bros., Inc., brochure titled “Colonial,” Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. (Private collection.)

Figure 3  Potthast Bros., Inc., sketch for a chair inscribed “Miss de Wolfe,” Potthast letterbook, 1907, p. 305. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 4  Potthast Bros., Inc., “Huntmaster’s chair,” Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1917. Mahogany and lightwood inlay with oak. H. 51 1/2", W. 27 1/2", D. 23". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 5  Detail of the back of the “Huntmaster’s chair” illustrated in fig. 4.

Figure 6  Photograph showing the suite of Potthast furniture commissioned for Pleasant Hill, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1920. (Private collection.)

Figure 7  Photograph of William Potthast, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1900. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 8  Photograph of Vincent Potthast, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1900. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 9  Lithograph showing Potthast Bros., Inc.’s shop at 507 North Howard Street and factory at 506–508 Tyson Street. The photograph of this image is taken from Das Neue Baltimore (1905).

Figure 10  Chest of drawers attributed to William Camp, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1820. Mahogany with tulip poplar and yellow pine. H. 41", W. 40 1/2", D. 21 1/4". The Potthasts repaired and labeled this chest about 1903. (Private collection.)

Figure 11  Detail showing the label on the chest illustrated in fig. 10.

Figure 12  Potthast Bros., Inc., sketch of a chest submitted to Mrs. Geo. Hills, Fall River, Massachusetts, May 23, 1907. This sketch, which resembles the chest illustrated in fig. 10, is in Potthast letterbook, 1907. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 13  Title page from O. A. Kirkland Auctioneer, Catalogue of the Celebrated Dr. William H. Crim Collection of Genuine Antiques, Baltimore, Maryland, 1903. (Private collection.)

Figure 14  Potthast Bros., Inc., reproduction “Crim chair,” Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. Mahogany with oak. H. 40 1/4", W. 24", D. 17 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 15  Philadelphia side chair illustrated as lot 231 in O. A. Kirkland Auctioneer, Catalogue of the Celebrated Dr. William H. Crim Collection of Genuine Antiques, Baltimore, Maryland, 1903. (Private collection.)

Figure 16  Illustration of a reproduction “Side Chair, handsomely carved, sold at the Dr. Crim Sale” in Potthast Bros., Inc., “Interesting Facts: Inside Secrets of Selecting Furniture Correctly,” Baltimore, Maryland, 1935.

Figure 17  Detail of the carving on the back of the side chair illustrated in fig. 14. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 18  Side chair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1750. Mahogany with pine. H. 39", W. 24", D. 22 1/2". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) This chair sold as lot 231 in O. A. Kirkland Auctioneer, Catalogue of the Celebrated Dr. William H. Crim Collection of Genuine Antiques, Baltimore, Maryland, 1903.

Figure 19  Detail of the carving on the back of the side chair shown in fig. 18.

Figure 20  Armchair illustrated as lot 774 in O. A. Kirkland Auctioneer, Catalogue of the Celebrated Dr. William H. Crim Collection of Genuine Antiques, Baltimore, Maryland, 1903. (Private collection.) This armchair is one of eight that reputedly belonged to Francis Scott Key.

Figure 21   Potthast Bros., Inc., reproduction “Key chair,” Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1910. Mahogany with oak. H. 36 3/4", W. 23 3/4", D. 20 1/4". (Courtesy, Maryland Historical Society.)

Figure 22  Photograph of the Maryland Building in the 1907 Tercentennial Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia, illustrated in Report of the Maryland Commission to the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition (1908).

Figure 23  Photograph showing the “Senate Chamber” of the Maryland Building in the 1907 Tercentennial Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia, illustrated in Report of the Maryland Commission to the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition (1908).

Figure 24  Photograph showing the “Senate Chamber” of the Maryland Building in the 1907 Tercentennial Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia, illustrated in Report of the Maryland Commission to the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition (1908).

Figure 25  Inventory of objects loaned by Potthast Bros., Inc., for the Maryland Building in the 1907 Tercentennial Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.) The inventory is in Potthast letterbook, 1907.

Figure 26  Potthast Bros., Inc., “Jamestown” sofa, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1906–1907. Mahogany with oak. H. 35 1/2", W. 79", D. 27 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 27  Lithograph composite view of the Potthast shop at 702 North Howard Street and the Wicomico Street factory illustrated on the back cover of the firm’s brochure titled “The Dining Room Beautiful,” Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1922. Potthast Bros., Inc., began to specialize in dining-room furniture by the mid-1920s. Advertisements and surviving objects suggest that tables, chairs, and sideboards constituted the bulk of the firm’s manufacturing work.

Figure 28  Photograph showing part of Potthast Bros., Inc.’s Wicomico Street factory with a delivery truck in the foreground, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1925. The vehicle is painted with a variety of slogans and catchwords including “Dining Room Furniture Our Specialty” and “Antique Furniture.”

Figure 29  Illustration from Potthast Bros., Inc., “Reproductions That Are An Investment,” Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930.

Figure 30  Potthast Bros., Inc., chair designs with identification numbers, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1910. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.) This page of chair designs was found among a group of photographs and shop drawings. Such materials may have been used as a reference for both patrons and workmen.

Figure 31  Side chair, Baltimore, Maryland, 1790–1810. Mahogany with tulip poplar. H. 37 1/4", W. 20 1/2", D. 16 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) This chair is part of a set originally owned by Charles Carroll of Homewood.

Figure 32  Potthast Bros., Inc., side chair, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. Mahogany with oak. H. 38", W. 20", D. 17". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 33  Detail of the carved husks on the back of the side chair illustrated in fig. 31. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 34  Detail of the carved husks on the back of the side chair illustrated in fig. 32. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 35  Potthast Bros., Inc., label for “Authenticated Replicas.”

Figure 36  Sideboard, New York, 1790–1810. Mahogany with unrecorded secondary woods.
H. 41 1/2", W . 72 3/4", D. 28 3/4". (Courtesy, Christie’s.)

Figure 37  Potthast Bros., Inc., “Metropolitan” sideboard, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1940. Mahogany with oak. H. 40 1/2", W. 72", D. 24". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 38  Photograph showing the “Metropolitan” window display at the Potthast Bros., Inc., store at 924 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. (Potthast family collection; photo, Harry B. Leopold.)

Figure 39  Photograph showing the “Mount Vernon” window display at the Potthast Bros., Inc., store at 924 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. This display may have been constructed in Febuary 1930 to commemorate Washington’s birthday. (Potthast family collection; photo, Harry B. Leopold.)

Figure 40  Potthast Bros., Inc., “Mount Vernon” sideboard, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1940. Mahogany and mahogany veneer with unidentified secondary woods. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 41  Drawing showing a chair leg being carved, in Potthast Bros., Inc., “Interesting Facts: Inside Secrets of Selecting Furniture Correctly,” Baltimore, Maryland, 1935.

Figure 42  Potthast Bros., Inc., carved rail from an unfinished “Duncan Phyfe” chair, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1940. Mahogany. Dimensions not recorded. (Potthast family collection.)

Figure 43  Potthast Bros., Inc., carved capital from an unfinished “colonial” chest of drawers, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1940. Mahogany. Dimensions not recorded. (Potthast family collection.)

Figure 44  Detail of a corner block and brands on the side chair illustrated in fig. 14. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 45  Detail of a top fastener used by Potthast Bros., Inc. (Photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

Figure 46  Potthast Bros., Inc., dining table, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. Mahogany with tulip poplar and oak. H. 29 3/4", W. 60" (without extra leaves), D. 44 1/4". (Courtesy, Maryland Historical Society.)

Figure 47  Detail of the inlay on a card table by Potthast Bros., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1930. (Courtesy, Maryland Historical Society.)

Figure 48  Potthast Bros., Inc., working drawings for the “Mount Vernon” sideboard, Baltimore, Maryland, 1931. (Courtesy, Potthast family collection.)

Figure 49  Potthast Bros., Inc., label, Baltimore, Maryland, 1930–1940.