Mark Twain's Hawaiian Furniture - F. N. Otremba

Continuing on with the topic of Hawaiian carved furniture comes two pieces made by F. N. Otremba. Otremba was commissioned by the Hawaii Promotion Committee to carve a mantel for Mark Twain's new home, "Stormfield" in 1908. The job cost $300 and at the time was described as "one of the handsomest pieces of furniture ever made in the Islands". It was installed in the author's billiard room on his 73rd birthday. However, the home and mantel were later destroyed by fire. A chair was also carved by Otremba for Twain but he had a choice between the mantel and the chair and selected the mantel. The chair, pictured to the right, stayed in Hawaii, apparently with the Otremba family. Research and image courtesy of the Daughters of Hawaii and from their book, Hawaiian Furniture And Hawaii’s Cabinetmakers.