George II side chair c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have a George II side chair, its maker remains unidentified, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a rather imposing presence, doesn't it? The dark wood and the upholstered seat seem both solid and formal. Curator: Indeed, such chairs were integral to demonstrating status in the 18th century. Consider the labor involved, from sourcing the wood to upholstery. Editor: Precisely. The detailed carving on the legs and back screams hours of work, marking the chair as a commodity for the wealthy. We must consider the hands that made it. Curator: And how its presence would have shaped social interactions. Who sat, who stood, all dictated by such objects. Editor: Yes, a powerful intersection of materiality and hierarchy, isn’t it? Curator: It's a chair that speaks volumes about its time. Editor: Leaving us to ponder those untold stories embedded in its creation.