A Century on Harmony Street: The Kohlmaier Cabinetmakers of New Orleans

DEBUTING AT THE CABILDO NOVEMBER 4, 2021

BROUGHT TO LIFE BY THE LOUISIANA MUSEUM FOUNDATION

AND OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS

AN EXHIBITION AT THE CABILDO LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM AND CATALOGUE

Business/cocktail attire ~ Open bar by Goldring Family Foundation/Sazerac

Heavy hors d’oeuvres by Patti Constantin, Designs in Catering ~ Entertainment by Gentilly Street Stompers

Cocktail reception marks this exhibition opening showcasing the exquisite artistry and incredible story of the premier New Orleans furniture maker and its catalogue debut. Experience fine cuisine and libations, and lively music (Ruppert loves to dance!). The Louisiana Museum Foundation is pleased to present this Louisiana State Museum exhibition and accompanying catalogue curated by Cybèle Gontar.

SPECIAL PATRON GATHERING

At a Private Garden District Home

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Signed exhibition catalogues will be available on Nov. 2 and 4.

TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS

(504) 558-0493 | [email protected]

*Masks and proof of vaccination may be required depending on protocols in place on November 4th

Operating out of a modest shop at 1018 Harmony Street in New Orleans’ once working-class Irish Channel, the father-and-son cabinetmaking team of Ruppert Kohlmaier, Sr. and Jr. produced some of the finest hand-crafted furniture ever made in Louisiana,beginning in the 1930s. The Kohlmaiers’ eye-catching and perfectly proportioned pieces frequently bear detailed carvings, brilliantly colored and dramatically patterned cypress veneers, striped macawood detailing, and ornate and colorful inlaid conch shells. New Orleans patrons, who had fallen under the prevailing spell of the Colonial Revival during the 1930s and who were witness to a spate of new American museum wings featuring colonial and federal era furnishings, would bring photographs from The Magazine Antiques and recent histories on early American furniture to the Kohlmaiers to copy. Local collectors became devoted acolytes, who returned again and again to participate in the process of the designs that they chose being brought to fruition. Today, many New Orleans homes remain furnished with these works, and they are treasured heirlooms. Ruppert Kohlmaier, Jr., born in 1936, continues to work at 1018 Harmony Street, where he has spent his entire career. Ruppert’s vivid recollections about his training, of working alongside his father, their noteworthy commissions, and working methods have enriched this catalogue. A Century on Harmony Street: The Kohlmaier Cabinetmakers of New Orleans tells the extraordinary story of the Kohlmaiers, including their personal history, the stylistic breadth of their furniture, and their close relationship with a loyal circle of New Orleans patrons, who have been justifiably impressed with their talent and commitment to perfection.