# Bertha Schaefer

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bertha_Schaefer
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bertha_Schaefer.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Schaefer
> Source revision: 1353230171
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American artist and designer

Bertha Schaefer Born 1895 (1895) Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S. Died May 24, 1971(1971-05-24) (aged 75–76) New York City, U.S. Known for Design

**Bertha Schaefer** (1895–1971) was an American designer and gallery director, she was known for her furniture designs, and as an interior designer.

## Biography

Schaefer was born in [Yazoo City, Mississippi](/source/Yazoo_City%2C_Mississippi) in 1895. Her father Emil Schaefer was a refugee from Germany and worked as a board of trustees for a public school.[1] She attended [Mississippi State College for Women](/source/Mississippi_State_College_for_Women) and [Parsons School of Design](/source/Parsons_School_of_Design).[2] She briefly traveled to Paris after graduation from school and after she returned to New York City to work with interior designer Helen Criss for a few months.[1] Schaefer died in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) on May 24, 1971.[3] Her paper are in the [Archives of American Art](/source/Archives_of_American_Art) at the [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution).[4] The [Sheldon Museum of Art](/source/Sheldon_Museum_of_Art) was the recipient of paintings, prints, sculpture, and ceramics from her estate.[5]

## Design

In 1924 Schaefer founded *Bertha Schaefer Interiors*. Her company designed [Bauhaus](/source/Bauhaus)-inspired furniture and interiors for both residences and businesses.[6] In 1952 Schaefer's work was included in [MoMA](/source/MoMA)'s exhibition *Good Design*.[7] The same year she won a design award from MoMA.[2] From 1950 through 1961 Schaefer designed furniture for M. Singer and Sons Furniture Company.[4] Schaefer was a member of the Decorators Club of New York, serving two terms as president and, in 1959, receiving their design award.[2]

## Gallery

In 1944 Schaefer founded the Bertha Schaefer Gallery of Contemporary Art in New York City, which exhibited contemporary American and European painting and sculpture.[8] The gallery represented [Will Barnet](/source/Will_Barnet), [William Clutz](/source/William_Clutz), [Robert Cronbach](/source/Robert_Cronbach), [Elisabeth Frink](/source/Elisabeth_Frink), [Terry Frost](/source/Terry_Frost), [Patrick Heron](/source/Patrick_Heron), [Morris Kantor](/source/Morris_Kantor), Joseph Konzal, [Charles Green Shaw](/source/Charles_Green_Shaw), Raymond Rocklin, [Joop Sanders](/source/Joop_Sanders), John von Wicht,[9] and [Irwin Rubin](/source/Irwin_Rubin).[10] They also exhibited works by Eric Beynon, [Manuel Felguerez](/source/Manuel_Felgu%C3%A9rez), Zvi Gali, [María Luisa Pacheco](/source/Mar%C3%ADa_Luisa_Pacheco), [Mimmo Rotella](/source/Mimmo_Rotella), [Eusebio Sempere](/source/Eusebio_Sempere),[11] [Glen Michaels](/source/Glen_Michaels),[12] Sheldon Machlin, and [Karin Van Leyden](/source/Karin_Van_Leyden).[13] In the early 1960s, the gallery presented group exhibitions that focused on young,[14] international[11] artists working with hybrid forms between painting and sculpture,[12] such as "Six Techniques: Six Nationalities" (September–October 1960),[11] and "The Wall" (January 1962).[15] Examples include “Relieve Luminoso Movil," electrically illuminated, plastic reliefs by Spanish artist, [Eusebio Sempere](/source/Eusebio_Sempere), as well as carved, colorfully painted wood constructions by New York based [Irwin Rubin](/source/Irwin_Rubin).[16]

In 1972, following Schaefer's death, the gallery was renamed the New Bertha Schaefer Gallery.[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Archive-2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Archive-2011_1-1) ["Oral history interview with Bertha Schaefer, 1970 April 20–22"](https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-bertha-schaefer-11791). *www.aaa.si.edu*. Archive of American Art. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110628212935/http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-bertha-schaefer-11791) from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2020-03-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jewish_Women's_Archive_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jewish_Women's_Archive_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Jewish_Women's_Archive_2-2) Tuchman, Miriam. ["Bertha Schaefer"](https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schaefer-bertha). *Jewish Women's Archive*. Retrieved 10 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NYT_3-0)** ["Bertha Schaefer, an Art Dealer And Interior Designer, 76, Dies"](https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/26/archives/ertha-schaefer-an-art-dealr-4nd-interior-designer-76-dies.html). *The New York Times*. 26 May 1971. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Archives_of_American_Art_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Archives_of_American_Art_4-1) ["A Finding Aid to the Bertha Schaefer papers and gallery records, 1909–1975, bulk, 1940–1965"](https://sova.si.edu//record/AAA.schabert). *Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution*. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sheldon_Museum_of_Art_5-0)** ["Selections from the Bertha Schaefer Collection"](https://sheldonartmuseum.org/exhibitions/selections-from-the-bertha-schaefer-collection). *Sheldon Museum of Art*. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mid-Century_Modern_Finds_6-0)** ["Designer Spotlight: Bertha Schaefer"](https://www.midcenturymodernfinds.com/blog/2016/10/24/designer-spotlight-bertha-schaefer). *Mid-Century Modern Finds*. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MoMA_7-0)** ["Good Design – Master Checklist"](https://www.moma.org/documents/moma_master-checklist_325862.pdf) (PDF). *Museum of Modern Art*. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Archives_Directory_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Archives_Directory_8-1) ["Schaefer, Bertha, 1895–1971"](https://research.frick.org/directory/detail/495). *Archives Directory for the History of Collecting*. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mellow, James R., ed. (1964). "New York: The Art World". *Arts Yearbook*. **7**. New York, NY: The Art Digest, Inc.: 111.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Chaet, Bernard (1960). *Artists At Work*. Cambridge, MA: Webb Books. p. 72.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Preston-1960_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Preston-1960_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Preston-1960_11-2) Preston, Stuart (September 17, 1960). ["Art: Opening Salvos"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/09/17/99804325.html?zoom=14.36). *The New York Times*. p. 47.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Canaday-1962_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Canaday-1962_12-1) Canaday, John (January 7, 1962). ["Sculpture Coming Up"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/01/07/96033093.html?zoom=14.25). *The New York Times*. p. 131.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Gallery Shows, Museum Exhibits"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/12/01/105228470.html?zoom=14.02). *The New York Times*. December 1, 1963. p. 214.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** E., N. (October 1960). "Six Techniques: Six Nationalities". *Art News*. **59** (6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Adams, Alice (March 1, 1962). ["The Wall"](https://digital.craftcouncil.org/digital/collection/p15785coll2/id/2943/rec/99). *[Craft Horizons](/source/Craft_Horizons)*. **22** (2): 41 – via craftcouncil.org/digital/.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Gueft, Olga, ed. (September 1960). "For Your Information: Art and Trade Shows Worthy of Note". *Interiors*. **CXX** (2). Charles E Whitney: 20.

## External links

- [images of Schaefer's work](http://www.artnet.com/artists/bertha-schaefer/) on Artnet.com

- [images of Schaefer's work](https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Bertha-Schaefer/17F575F042194477) on MutualArt

- [Oral history interview with Bertha Schaefer, 1970 April 20–22](https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-bertha-schaefer-11791), in the [Archives of American Art](/source/Archives_of_American_Art), Smithsonian Institution

- [A Finding Aid to the Bertha Schaefer Papers and Gallery Records, 1909–1975, bulk 1940–1965](https://sova.si.edu//record/AAA.schabert), in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

- [Bertha Schaefer entry](https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schaefer-bertha) from the Encyclopedia of Jewish Women

Authority control databases International VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bertha Schaefer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Schaefer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_Schaefer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.