Pair of Side Chairs 1770 - 1790

These side chairs were created by an anonymous artist, and now reside in the Art Institute of Chicago. Observe the cabriole legs terminating in ball-and-claw feet; these are no mere functional supports, but potent symbols. The claw-and-ball motif, adopted from Chinese art, often represents the dragon’s grip on a pearl, a symbol of power and dominion. It migrated westward, becoming fashionable in European furniture, signifying a mastery of trade and the exotic. This symbol, so far removed from its original context, continues to evoke a sense of authority and control, subtly influencing our perception of status and power. Notice how the graceful curves of the chair's legs and back, combined with the solid stance of the feet, create a tension between delicacy and strength. The design unconsciously taps into our primal understanding of power, a subconscious nod to the enduring human fascination with dominance. The motif resurfaces through history, adapting to new materials, societal structures, and cultural nuances.