Card table c. mid 18th century

This card table was created by an anonymous artist, and now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Notice the cabriole legs, terminating in claw-and-ball feet, a motif laden with symbolism. The claw gripping the sphere is not merely decorative; it speaks to a deeper, more primal human drive to grasp and control fortune. This motif echoes across cultures, from ancient myths of grasping eagles to the heraldic emblems of powerful families. Consider how this symbol has morphed through the ages. The eagle, once a symbol of imperial Rome, is now perched on this table leg, tamed by the domestic sphere, yet still hinting at a subconscious desire for dominance, a theme reflected in the stakes of the game played upon its surface. This symbol shows the cyclical journey of cultural artifacts, a reflection of our own desires played out in wood and design.