Patented Modern Gothic Chair in the Brooklyn Museum of Art by Fredrick W. Krause

Fredrick Krause s chair in the Brooklyn Museum of Art (accession no. 87. 19) is a key to the understanding of factory-made, patent furniture, and the Modern Gothic style in the United States. However, research has rarely done for this chair as well as for the designer. Since this piece is incorporating the utility patent, it is a valuable example to understand the nineteenth-century patented furniture. Because of the popularity of Modern Gothic style, the similar style of chairs were often manufactured. This study explores how other examples are related and what the significance of the Brooklyn Museum chair is. The book of Sharon Darling provided especially helpful information about other Krause chairs in Fond du Lac and chair manufactures in Chicago. The interview with John Ebert at Galloway House in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin was especially helpful. Several primary sources proved helpful in researching the chair. The photo archives of Kimbel and Cabus at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum provides me a key to this research.