Cabinet 1847

This elegant cabinet was crafted by Alexander Roux, a prominent New York cabinetmaker during the 19th century. It showcases the ornate style popular at the time, reflecting the opulence desired by the emerging middle class. Roux, a French immigrant, catered to the aspirations of wealthy Americans eager to display their refined taste. The cabinet, with its elaborate inlays and carvings, speaks to the complex relationship between identity and material culture. Furniture like this wasn't just functional; it was a statement. It reflected one’s status, taste, and understanding of European refinement. But such refinement was often purchased at the expense of others. The cabinet is also a reminder of the inequalities prevalent during this era. Wealthy consumers, like Roux’s clients, benefited from the labor of others, including enslaved people whose forced labor produced the raw materials used in its construction. It asks us to consider how beauty and privilege are often intertwined with exploitation and oppression.