Herter Brothers

Mr. Darius Ogden Mills, Millbrae, CA, 1880
Thence by descent
Butterfield & Butterfield, The Contents of Happy House, Millbrae, November 3, 1953
Bonhams & Butterfields San Francisco, February 26, 2007, lot 1042

Artistic Houses, New York, 1883-1884, vol. 1, pt. 2, n.p. (for a period photograph of a virtually identical model in the bedroom of Mr. William H. Vanderbilt, 640 Fifth Avenue, New York)
Doreen Bolger Burke, et al., In Pursuit of Beauty: Americans and the Aesthetic Movement, New York, 1986, p. 168
Katherine S. Howe, et al., Herter Brothers: Furniture and Interiors for a Gilded Age, New York, 1994, pp. 76 and 195-199 (for related ebonized Herter suites)
Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen, "Christian Herter's decoration of the William H. Vanderbilt house in New York City," The Magazine Antiques, March 1995, p. 415

Very good overall condition. The surfaces are generally clean and bright and the marquetry is stable and shows a pleasing contrast of tones. The mirror frame with scattered surface abrasions notably to the edges as expected. There is a very narrow 7 ½ x 1/8 inch loss to the inner edge molding at the top of the frame where it meets the mirror plate. There is a very narrow 4 x 1/8 inch sliver loss to the bottom of the frame where it meets the marble which is not overtly apparent upon casual inspection. The lower right proper corner of the frame is separating slightly and would benefit from adjustment. The mirror plate and the marble tops appear to be replaced. The mirror plate is supported to the back with two added strips of wood to provide extra stability. The left proper cabinet has a narrow tapering 7 x ¾ inch detached molding to the inner back edge just below the marble that would benefit from re-securing. This detached section of molding has been retained and accompanies this lot. Each cabinet has two drilled holes spaced one foot apart to the outer marquetry friezes just below the marble. It would appear that they were for further mounts, perhaps a bar to hold linens. The central marble top with a small repair to the left proper front corner. Rubbing and wear to the feet that would benefit from a sensitive surface restoration. This delicate yet imposing form is exquisitely crafted and has a remarkably well documented historic provenence.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Darius Ogden Mills was born to a prominent Salem, New York family in 1825.  After completing his formal education, he traveled west in 1849 settling in Sacramento, California.  Mills became a trader and merchant outfitting the influx of prospectors flocking to the California gold rush.  In 1864 he co-founded the Bank of California with a small group of businessmen.  By 1878 Mills had amassed a vast fortune of around fifty million dollars and was able to retire from business in California to focus on philanthropy and his eastcoast concerns. 

In 1860 Mills acquired a five-hundred acre estate south of San Francisco and hired famed landscape architect John McLaren to design the grounds, and the firm of Diaper and Seltzer to design a mansion that would be known as "Happy House."  Herter Brothers was enlisted to decorate the home during its inception between 1869 and 1871.  In this first phase Herters' designs were historicist and in keeping with the prevailing Renaissance revival style of the home.  In 1880 Herter Brothers returned to redecorate "Happy House" and at that time two Anglo-Japanese ebonized bedroom suites were ordered, one which was utilized by Mrs. Mills and may have incorporated the present lot.

This dressing table, in form and decoration, is nearly identical to one Herter supplied for the bedroom of William H. Vanderbilt, 640 Fifth Avenue, New York, circa 1882.  The lush overall marquetry is also closely related to a bedstead from an ebonized suite executed for Arabella Worsham Huntington that is currently in the collection of The St. Louis Museum of Art.  The marquetry pattern on the friezes of this bedstead are an exact match to those utilized on the friezes and mirror frame of the present example.