Design for left-hand side of a side-board, framed by sconces with putti 1800 - 1900

This delicate drawing on paper presents a design for the left-hand side of a sideboard, framed by sconces with putti, and comes to us from an anonymous hand. The sketch, quickly rendered, is an insight into the world of luxury furniture production. Note the emphasis on ornamentation, with swirling lines and cherubic figures. This was all destined to be carved in wood, likely by a highly skilled specialist. The drawing represents a crucial stage in the division of labor; the designer imagines the overall form and decorative scheme, which is then realized by other hands. The drawing, therefore, is much more than a preliminary stage. It is a token of the complex social relations that underpin even the most apparently straightforward object, illustrating the conceptual labor of design, and the physical labor of production. It prompts us to consider the many hands involved in bringing such a piece of furniture to life, and to value all forms of making, not just the conception.