Following several years of new research and an extensive conservation campaign, a magnificent pair of sofas in the VMFA collection have emerged with a captivating history and a distinctive look. Produced by the celebrated furniture maker John Henry Belter over 160 years ago, the near-identical sofas graced the homes of powerful American businessmen and socialites alike — including the last private owner of the Hope Diamond. Their story is replete with Gilded Age elegance and Jazz Age intrigue.
