American cabinetmaker Daniel Pabst, who was born in Germany, lived during the Victorian era. Inthe United States, he is regarded with creating some of the most unique custom interiors and hand-crafted furniture. He produced items in the RenaissanceRevival, Neo-Grec, Modern Gothic, andColonial Revival styles, occasionally working with architect Frank Furness. The Metropolitan Museumof Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Victoria & AlbertMuseum in London all include examples of his work in their collections.

Pabst, who was born in Langenstein, Hesse, Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1849 andmade his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he would pursue a career in business. Hisfurniture designs,which were frequently massively scaled and featured columns, pilasters, roundedand Gothic arches, aggressive carving, and multicoloured embellishment, also had a strongarchitectonic (building-like) aspect that set them apart from their contemporaries. He was an expertat cameo carving (also known as intaglio) in wood, which involves veneering lighter wood overdarker wood and then carving through to provide a striking contrast. Decorative tiles and paintedglass panels with reflective foil-backed backings were used to embellish several pieces. Furniturewas occasionally ebonized and frequently employed elaborate strap hinges and fittings.