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Gallery StatementAbout Carswell Rush Berlin
The first classical revival since the Renaissance, profoundly influencing European art, architecture and all the decorative and applied arts beginning in the 2nd quarter of the 18th century, began to effect American furniture design in the same years that the United States was becoming a nation, hence the terms "Federal" and "Classical" furniture. It was this taste for designs inspired by ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt, as translated from English and French furniture design directories and pattern books by American cabinetmakers, which created the longest lived, most popular, most influential and, arguably, the most important period of American creativity and craftsmanship in our furniture making history.
The firm's approach is highly selective, only buying for inventory examples that meet a high standard of design excellence, craftsmanship, quality of materials, original condition and rarity. We are continually seeking to buy period examples of every form that meet these standards and welcome photographs sent by mail. Each piece is extensively researched with the description supplied in writing. We offer to our clients an unconditional guarantee that each piece is as described. Mr. Berlin grew up in a home steeped in American decorative arts and surrounded by fine examples of 18th century American furniture, his father having been a passionate collector. He became enthralled with the classical aesthetic of the early 19th century over twenty years ago, and is now considered one of the country's leading dealers in this period. He has lectured at New York University's School of Continuing Education where he is an adjunct professor. Mr. Berlin offers a course at NYU each Spring on early 19th century American furniture. He has lectured at the Parsons School of Design in New York, the prestigious Williamsburg Forum, the Detroit Institute of Art, The Saint Louis Museum of Art, Boscobel and the symposium on American Classical Furniture at the Yale University Art Gallery. His furniture has been featured in The Magazine ANTIQUES, Architectural Digest, House & Garden, Art & Auction, and Veranda Magazine. An essay entitled "Solid and Permanent Grandeur: The Design Roots of American Classical Furniture" is featured in the show catalogue for the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show in NYC, October 18th-24th, 2002. Read the article online. His article "An Important Rosewood and Cast-Iron Gueridon Attributed to Duncan Phyfe" was published in The Magazine ANTIQUES, May 2000 issue (Vol. CLVII, NO. 5) pages 770-777. Mr. Berlin's article "Classical Furniture in Federal Philadelphia" was published in Antiques & Fine Art Magazine, Spring 2007 vol. VII, Issue 5, p.192-199. Read the article online. He is also writing a comprehensive guide to formal American furniture of the first half of the 19th century. Mr. Berlin serves on the Board of Trustees of The Long Island Museum
of American Art, History and Carriages, (formerly The Museums at Stony
Brook) (NY) and Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston, S.C.) He is a member
of the prestigious National Antiques and Art Dealers Association of
America (NAADAA) and the Antique Dealers Association of America (ADA).
A graduate of Kenyon College, he founded Carswell Rush Berlin, Inc.
in 1992 to serve museums and collectors. The firm's clients include: We welcome calls and gallery visits and hope that you will visit us at our booth at top antiques shows where we exhibit throughout the year including: While always welcome to visit our private
gallery by appointment, Carswell Rush Berlin also exhibits at top
antiques shows throughout the country, including: Winter Antiques Show Park Avenue Armory, |
Carswell Rush Berlin, Inc. is a private antique furniture dealer
in New York City specializing exclusively in top quality American
formal furniture and decorative accessories of the first forty years
of the 19th century, referred to as the classical period.
The mission of Carswell Rush Berlin is to bring to the market important
high-style examples from this classical period of Adam, Directoire,
Empire and French Restauration furniture made in America's leading
fashion and furniture-making centers, Salem, Boston, New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore in the years 1800-1840. We focus on pieces ordered from
the greatest designers and cabinetmakers by the wealthiest strata
of American society of the period.
The
Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY)