Rare Victorian Est. 2008 · The Curator's Archive
Research No. 446

S. Karpen & Bros. Furniture Exhibition - Russell Senate Office Building

Originally published

FurnitureKarpen BrothersSenate

S. Karpen & Bros. Furniture Exhibition - Russell Senate Office Building
S. Karpen & Bros. Furniture Exhibition - Russell Senate Office Building

Emily Rose, a Karpen descendent and author, tipped me off that there is a special exhibition going on featuring furniture from the S. Karpen & Bros. furniture manufacturing company at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. The exhibition will continue through September 5th, 2009.

Apparently, a fair amount of this furniture trickled out in private hands as the office's inhabitants availed themselves of the furniture over the years. Now the Senate wants it back for the building's 100th birthday. Senate Associate Curator Melinda Smith said that she might make up a wanted poster to help people identify the furniture needed for return. I've decided to make one for her and start the process.

karpen-wanted-poster

I've also included a pamphlet from the Senate documenting the history of the furniture.

Find antique victorian furniture on eBay →

S. Karpen & Bros. Furniture Exhibition - Russell Senate Office Building
S. Karpen & Bros. Furniture Exhibition - Russell Senate Office Building

2 comments

  1. james conrad
    LOL @ wanted poster however, as D.C. is my home town, i think a bribe/reward poster with $$$$ attached may get better results.
  2. September
    I came across your site on google. I recently bought a chair at an estate sale. I had no idea what it was I just liked it. There is a tag attached to the rear leg that is old and it says "Karpen Gauranteed Upholstered Furniture". I haven't been able to find a picture of a similar chair. This chair looks like Mahogany and it is an arm chair that has a rounded back to it that looks like something that would be in an office. It is nice and Im wondering if you would know how I can find out what it is worth or who might be interested in purchasing it. I really think it could be one of the missing chairs from the Senate. Thank you very much for your time. Sincerely September

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Decent Furniture for Decent People

I'm sharing a PhD Thesis on 19th Century Canadian furniture with a special focus on manufacturer Jacques & Hay by Denise Jacques (I assume there is no coincidence there on the last name). She is now working on a book