Catherine Rogers Arthur
“The True Antiques of Tomorrow”: Furniture by the Potthast Brothers of Baltimore, 1892–1975

American Furniture 2000

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    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
    Figure 2

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

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

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

  • Figure 4
    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
    Figure 5

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

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

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

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

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

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

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

  • Figure 9
    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
    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
    Figure 11

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

  • Figure 12
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Figure 17

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

  • Figure 18
    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
    Figure 19

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

  • Figure 20
    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
    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, Baltimore, Maryland.)

  • Figure 22
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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.)

  • Fgure 27
    Fgure 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
    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
    Figure 29

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

  • Figure 30
    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
    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
    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
    Figure 33

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

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

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

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

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

  • Figure 36
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Figure 44

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

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

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

  • Figure 46
    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, Baltimore, Maryland.)

  • Figure 47
    Figure 47

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

  • Figure 48
    Figure 48

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

  • Figure 49
    Figure 49

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