Stoel c. 1830 - 1850

This pencil drawing of a chair was made by Firma Feuchère. The design shows a piece of furniture in the Rococo style, popular throughout Europe in the 18th century. The Rococo, with its elaborate curves and ostentatious ornament, was the style of the European aristocracy. A chair such as this would have been commissioned for a grand interior, perhaps a palace or stately home, to signal the wealth and status of its owner. Furniture-makers like Feuchère operated within a complex system of patronage, with their success depending on securing commissions from wealthy individuals and institutions. To understand the historical meaning of this drawing, we can consider the social function of furniture. The Rococo chair was not simply a functional object, but a potent symbol of social hierarchy. We must remember that art is not autonomous. Its meaning is inseparable from the social and institutional conditions in which it is made and used. Historical sources in archives and libraries are invaluable for understanding this context.