darkly stained late 19th century original american victorian era oak wood corbel or bracket designed and fabricated by the decorator's supply company, chicago, il. the single solid wood bracket contains classical style gesso or composition ornament in the form of volutes, detailed leafage and beaded borders. the fragile, but stable gesso ornament remain in great shape, considering age. the small bracket is outlined with intact trimwork. a total of three nearly matching (surface finish varies) corbels are available. likely used in conjunction with an interior residential room divider. priced individually. the decorators supply company traces its history back to 1883 when the original founders, simon strahn and richard c. foster, established a partnership to manufacture "artistic decorative accessories" ("manufacturing and wholesale industries of chicago", thomas b. poole co., published 1918). an old lease document dated april 13, 1890 describes the company as a carving and guilders business. by 1893, decorators supply had blossomed into a manufacturer of cast ornamental plaster. the company was involved in the fabrication of the mouldings that would adorn the buildings and halls showcased in the columbian exhibition of 1893. these buildings, embellished with ornamental plaster, became known as the "white city." this world's fair of 1893 attracted a wealth of world class artists, sculptors, carvers and craftsmen to chicago. decorators supply drew from this rich talent pool the german, italian and polish artisans who over the following four decades would create the artistic legacy seen in their product offerings. measures 5 1/2 inches x 6 3/4 inches x 3 1/2 inches.