Furniture Design 1565 - 1570

This drawing of a piece of furniture was made by Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau in France, sometime in the mid-to-late 16th century. Du Cerceau was a designer and printmaker, celebrated for pattern books aimed at other artists and artisans. We can see the classical influence in the columns and pediment. But there are other more idiosyncratic details. Look, for instance, at the strange sphinx-like creatures reclining on the top. This combination of classical elements with more inventive ornamentation is characteristic of French art during this period. It reflects a moment of cultural confidence as France established itself as a major European power. These features would have been legible to contemporary audiences, and suggest the wealth and sophistication of the patron. To understand this image better, we can consult archives of aristocratic households, records of artistic training, and inventories of workshops. By locating it in the context of 16th-century France, we can appreciate it not just as a design, but as a cultural artifact that speaks to the social aspirations of its time.