Twee tafels after 1878

Here we see an undated print titled ‘Twee Tafels’ or ‘Two Tables’ depicting furniture designs by an anonymous artist. The tables are labeled ‘Table Henri II’, evoking the French Renaissance and a revival of classicism. In this period furniture was not merely functional but served as a statement of wealth and cultural refinement. It was a time where the decorative arts helped to solidify social hierarchies. Consider, though, the viewpoint of those who crafted these objects. Artisans and laborers, whose skill and labor brought these designs to life, were often left out of the narratives of luxury and status. These tables invite us to consider the complex relationships between design, labor, and social identity. They remind us that even seemingly simple objects can reveal the intricate ways in which we construct our worlds and our places within them.