Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond
Harvey Ellis was a designer who worked for the Stickley Company around the turn of the century. Stickler was well known for producing well-made simple designs in the Arts and Crafts style. The primary woods used were oak and they were always stained a deep, rich brown.
Ellis occasionally added inlaid metal elements. Here the motif is stylized plant forms that seem to mimic the look of European Art Nouveau designers. There are hints Austrians, like Josef Hoffman or Koloman Moser. The shiner metal jumps off the dark wood in a pleasing way.