Rare Antique American Steer Horn Armchair, late 19th c., attr. to Wenzel Friedrich, San Antonio, Texas, back, arms and legs comprised of tipped steer horns, hide back and seat, L.C. Tiffany glass and brass feet, h. 38 in., w. 30 1/2 in., d. 28 in.; together with a hide upholstered footstool, h. 15 in., w. 15 in., d. 12 1/2 in. Note: A native of Bohemia where he trained as a cabinetmaker, Wenzel Friedrich immigrated to San Antonio, Texas in 1853 and subsequently opened a furniture business that sold revival pieces to wealthy Texans. By 1880, Friedrich began crafting his innovative horn pieces after being inspired by similar European examples and seeing the plentiful availability of longhorn in Texan stockyards. He went on to exhibit horn furniture at several world expositions, including the 1884 Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans, where he received a gold medal. This recognition, along with a cultural fascination with the American West during a period of rapid westward expansion, made his pieces immensely popular in both the U.S. and Europe. He sold pieces to many wealthy East Coast clients and to world dignitaries including Queen Victoria and Kaiser Wilhelm I.Ref.: “Longhorn Armchair, 1880-90.” Cooper Hewitt Design Museum. collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18620777/. Accessed May 22, 2019; “History and Design of a Texas Horn Table.” iGavel Auctions. igavelauctions.com/blog-posts/history-and-design-of-a-texas-horn-table-wenzel-friedrich-horn-veneered-center-table-number-12. Accessed May 22, 2019