Ernest L. Brothers (1891–1974) was a highly sought-after interior designer whose grandest projects were undertaken for New York and Newport elites in the second quarter of the 20th century—including visionary merchant and tastemaker Samuel H. Kress. Born in England to a family of antique dealers and decorators, Brothers embraced the business and arrived in New York via Paris in 1919 as branch manager for the French firm Carlhian & Co. He established his own business in 1927.

Brothers cultivated strong connections across the Atlantic and attracted clients who favored old-world elegance for their residences. His referrals came from established architects such as Delano & Aldrich and Horace Trumbauer. As a recognized authority on late-18th-century English and French design, Brothers was consulted on projects for Colonial Williamsburg and the Kennedy White House.

 

Photographs, drawings, and luxuriant watercolors attest to Ernest L. Brothers’ artistry and his now underappreciated specialty of creating historically accurate wood-paneled rooms. Donated to the Museum in 1986 by his widow and daughter, this collection provides valuable insight into the practice of interior design during the early part of the last century.