Side Chair c. 1936

Frank Wenger rendered this "Side Chair" with great care, capturing its ornamental carvings in detail. The chair's design speaks of status and formality, adorned with motifs that echo classical acanthus leaves—symbols of endurance and rebirth. These vegetal forms are not unique to this chair, but reappear across time and cultures. In ancient Greek architecture, the acanthus leaf was prominently featured on Corinthian capitals, signifying prosperity and artistic excellence. This motif evolved, finding its way into Romanesque and Renaissance art, each time adapting to new aesthetic sensibilities. The persistence of these motifs reveals our deep-seated need for continuity, our urge to connect with the past. Like echoes in a grand hall, these forms resonate through time, demonstrating the cyclical nature of cultural memory. They are a testament to how images retain power, evolving and adapting, yet always carrying a trace of their origin.