H4158.1

Bird cage, Cathedral form. Material: Mahogany. Shape: Cathedral. Color: Brown. Date: 1900. Description: One central spire and 4 side spires. Delicate tracery decoration. Made in S.F. Trefoil and quatrafoil motif throughout. Donor file: Obtained by donor from Mrs. Ann Steckler (Swiss). The cage was made by Mr. Shultie who came from Germany. He was a cabinet maker by trade. It was given by him to his wife as an anniversary gift on their 25th anniversay. It was given to Mrs. Steckler after Mrs. Shultie passed away and has been in her care since the fall of 1906. Mrs. Shultie passed away on Aug. 3, 1960 and was 97 1/2 years old. She lived at Forest Knolls, Marin Co., Ca. From the History Information Station: Object: Gothic bird cage, mahogany. Made in San Francisco, circa 1880. History: This birdcage was made by a San Francisco cabinetmaker, Mr. Schultie, for his wife on their 25th wedding anniversary. It is a perfect example of Victorian furniture, elaborately constructed of rich, dark mahogany, in the popular Gothic style, complete with its own matching pedestal to take up space and command attention, and all for the comfort of a canary. In the 1800s thousands of middle-class women kept canaries; in fact, canary-keeping was considered an important female accomplishment. An etiquette book of 1852 gives as much space to the "management of canary birds" as to the "management of children." Opulence and Abundance Use your imagination to see what the things in this exhibit looked like in a true Victorian interior. Not only were houses filled with furniture, they were full of lush textiles, with colors and patterns and fringe and doilies and tassels and draperies and photographs and knicknacks and potted plants. Imagine these rugs spread on top of flowered carpets, in rooms with different patterned papers covering walls and ceilings, lit by windows hung with lace and velvet curtains. Imagine the chairs and tables draped with scarves, sitting next to valanced mantels covered with photographs and gilt vases and clocks. Victorian houses and furnishings celebrated luxury, artistry, acquisitiveness, worldliness and the abundant pleasures of home.

Used: San Francisco