Twee wandtafels met opengewerkte regels c. 1730 - 1775

This is an undated drawing by an anonymous artist, titled ‘Two wall tables with openwork rules’. During the time that these tables may have been in fashion, the design of furniture served as a signifier of status and taste, deeply interwoven with class distinctions. These tables, with their elaborate, decorative elements and delicate, curving lines, would likely have been commissioned by wealthy patrons for display in private residences. As we consider the historical context, it is also important to think about who had access to artistry and design. The work, probably displayed in a domestic setting, prompts us to question the identities and roles of those who interacted with these objects daily. The design of these tables invites us to reflect on the relationship between art, identity, and the often-unseen stories of labor and life that are woven into the objects we encounter.