Prie-Dieu 1759

Curator: Isn’t that something? Right now we're looking at a Prie-Dieu, crafted by Pietro Piffetti in 1759. A beautiful example of Rococo style rendered in inlaid wood, and held in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It's dizzying! All those dark, geometric patterns make me feel slightly off-kilter, like a funhouse mirror but for furniture. The sheen of the wood gives it an almost liquid feel, too, a molten quality like dark honey. Curator: It’s meant to induce a different kind of altered state, actually! The Prie-Dieu, or "pray-god" in French, is essentially a private prayer desk. It allows the user to kneel comfortably, with space to rest books and other devotional objects. So, those symbols… Editor: The diamonds, right, the repeated lattices covering the entire object, feels like the structure is holding the spirit, offering a sort of container. A box in which to concentrate on something essential, where pattern becomes meditative and almost overwhelming. Curator: Exactly! And consider the era, too. Rococo design, while undeniably opulent, was also about personal expression. Think of it, within the strictures of 18th-century life, this piece offers a little haven for one's inner world, literally a place for intimate exchange. The small door suggests more space for private reflections... hidden spaces that the eyes can't reach, only you. Editor: I see it. This isn't just ornamentation for decoration's sake. Those endless geometric repetitions, and the sensuous curves of the form itself – they all point to the divine, as in you are not the thing you think you are! You can lose yourself in this design, just to maybe find yourself. The symbolism invites this experience. Curator: Yes, it reminds us that sometimes the most profound experiences are found not in grand gestures, but in the quiet corners of our lives and homes. Editor: It's amazing to see how spiritual depth emerges in such intricate detail and precise design. This "pray-god," seems almost to create God! To find it by yourself, contained only by its curves.