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Niche Panel, Carved wood niche with Meta de Forest portrait

This is a Niche Panel. It was made by Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Taves Family Collection as part of Passion for the Exotic: Lockwood de Forest, Frederic Church.

It is dated ca. 1881. Its medium is carved teak and carved ivory.

This niche with its bust of Meta, kept by the de Forests, may have been a wedding present from the mistri (master) craftsmen. Not a de Forest design, it was intended as a display of the high quality wood carving and ivory work of which the men were capable.

It is credited Henry Taves and Posy Bass.

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 20.3 x 13.3 x 1 cm (8 in. x 5 1/4 in. x 3/8 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Passion for the Exotic: Lockwood de Forest, Frederic Church.

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/35460429/ |title=Niche Panel, Carved wood niche with Meta de Forest portrait |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=14 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>