2000.356.A-B.McD, William C. Codman, Martelé dressing table and stool

The dressing table and stool draw on the Baroque tradition of silver furniture favored by European monarchs, such as King Louis XIV of England, as statements of wealth. In many cases, however, kings opted for economical pieces of wood covered with sheets of silver. Gorham spared no expense in the creation of the Martelé ensemble, composed of 1,253 troy ounces of solid silver of a purity (950/1000) that exceeded that of the time-honored British sterling standard (925/1000). Gorham craftsman raised and chased the silver by hand, a task that required over 2,300 hours of skilled labor. 

Its design reflects a combination of stylistic influences, from traditional Colonial Revival forms such as the curved legs terminated by pad or claw-and-ball feet to the whiplash lines and floral motifs characteristic of Art Nouveau. The intricate decorative scheme includes Aurora, Roman goddess of the dawn, and an owl, symbols of morning and evening, the times of day when the table and stool would be used. For this achievement, Gorham received the Grand Prix, the fair’s highest award. Tycoon Thomas W. Lawson of Boston, Massachusetts, worth $50 million in 1901, purchased the Martelé dressing table and stool upon its return to the United States and installed it in his Dreamworld estate in Scituate, Massachusetts. 

1901-d. 1920: Thomas W. Lawson (1857-1925), Dreamworld Estate, Scituate, Massachusetts, acquired from Gorham Manufacturing Company[1] 

1920-d. 1939: Simon Swig (1862-1939), Hull, Massachusetts, acquired from the above[1]

1939-1991: private collection, thence by descent from the above[1]

1991-1991: Hoffman-Gampetro Antiques (Ron Hoffman), New York, New York, purchased at auction: "Important Americana Including Furniture, Folk Art, Quilts, Paintings, Silver and Chinese Export Porcelain," Sotheby's, New York, January 30-February 2, 1991, lot 49, as "An American Dressing Table and Stool Made for the Paris Exposition of 1900, Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, RI, Martelé, 950 Standard" [2]

1991-2000: Victor Niederhofer (b. 1943), Weston, Connecticut, purchased from the above through a private sale after May 3, 1991 [3]

From 2000: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., purchased from the above through a private sale facilitated by Sotheby's (accessioned: May 2, 2000) [4], [5]

[1] Sotheby's New York. "Important Americana Including Furniture, Folk Art, Quilts, Paintings, Silver and Chinese Export Porcelain." January 30-February 2, 1991, lot. 49 [auction catalogue]. (copy of relevant pages in Collections Records Object File)

[2] While the "Acquisition Proposal" in the Collections Records Object File and subsequent publications state that Victor Niederhofer purchased the dressing table and chair in 1991 from Christie's, it does not appear in a 1991 Christie's auction catalogue. Further, Dallas Museum of Art Mayerson Library Assistant Librarian Kellye Cohn contacted Christie's to obtain sale and lot numbers. Christie's Client Services Representative Jessica Makwinski replied inform Kellye Cohn that there are no mentions of the dressing table and chair in Christie's records (dated February 9-11, 2015, copy of correspondence in Collections Records Object File). Current research suggests that Ron Hoffman of Hoffman-Gampetro Antiques purchased the ensemble from Sotheby's and subsequently sold it to Victor Niederhoffer. See fax from Associate Curator Charles L. Venable to Ron Hoffmann (dated May 3, 1991, copy in Collections Records Object File). See also the handwritten note on a photocopy of page 4 of a publication (dated September 13, 1991, copy in Collections Records Object File), which reads "Sold to Ron Hoffman then to client. Ron will ask about loan."

[3] See "Acquisition Proposal" (dated August 2, 2000, in Collections Records Object File). See also letter from Chief Curator and Curator of Decorative Arts Charles L. Venable to Mr. and Mrs. Niederhoffer (dated January 22, 1996, copy in Collections Records Object File).

[4] See "Acquisition Proposal" (dated August 2, 2000, in Collections Records Object File). 

[5] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.

13314836: UMO. Dr. Charles L. Venable, Gallery Talk: "Vanity in the Golden Age: A Silver Masterpiece," in conjunction with the exhibition "Circa 1900: Design at the Turn of the Century," April 8-August 19, 2001

12937142: UMO. Curator Kevin Tucker discusses this dressing table and stool. 

YouTube~Watch a video about Gorham Manufacturing Company

Apply to objects where number equals 2000.356.A-B.McD