Arthur, Catherine Rogers2020-06-232020-06-231999http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/27269Potthast Bros., Inc., (1892-1975) founded in 1892 by four German immigrant brothers William, Vincent, John, and Theodore Potthast, was the most prolific cabinetmaking shop in late nineteenth and twentieth-century Baltimore. The firm's copyrighted slogan, "The True Antiques of Tomorrow," was not only prophetic but reflected the philosophy behind the founding brothers' hand-crafted reproduction furniture. This mindset, this desire to create furniture with "intrinsic" value, affected the way the brothers and their craftsmen went about designing, manufacturing and marketing furniture. ☐ The firm was not only influenced by but also contributed to its Colonial Revival context; the origins, development, and products of Potthast Bros., Inc. help tell the significant story of twentieth-century interest in American Antiques, and in turn, the popularity of reproduction furniture. ☐ Potthast Bros., Inc.'s careful selection of antiques to reproduce, the aggressive marketing used to sell the furniture, the conscientious craftsmanship and labeling practices, and the eighty-three year duration of the firm ensured the survival of a great quantity of objects to study. It is the survival of documentary materials (sales literature, photographs, drawings, and correspondence) however, that offers a glimpse into the process behind the objects, and the minds of the craftsmen.Potthast Brothers, Inc.Furniture -- Maryland -- BaltimoreCabinetmakers -- Maryland -- BaltimoreThesis1159428875