Music cabinet c. 1925 - 1930

Editor: This is the "Music Cabinet," crafted around 1925 to 1930 by Jules Bouy. It’s quite a striking assemblage of wood and bronze. There’s something about the clean lines that is appealing. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This isn't just a cabinet; it's a statement. Think about the context: the roaring twenties, the interwar period. Art Deco was a conscious embrace of modernity, technology, and even industrial production. It rejects the flowery aesthetics of the past in favour of streamlined forms. What does that signify to you, culturally speaking? Editor: Maybe a sense of optimism and moving forward after World War I, shedding old traditions? Curator: Exactly. And consider who had access to this type of luxury. The Art Deco style became an explicit signifier of class, power, and social mobility. Notice how the verticality of the cabinet, combined with the rich wood, asserts its presence in the space. How might the use of luxurious materials contribute to that reading? Editor: It feels like a symbol of aspiration, a physical representation of wealth and taste. Aspirational, but also somewhat exclusionary. Curator: Precisely! And the music cabinet function is interesting too, isn't it? The very concept of collecting music became associated with affluence and cultivated leisure. Do you see how function, style, and social context intertwine? Editor: I hadn't thought about it in that way. I was focused on the design, but the cultural aspect adds a new layer. Thank you! Curator: It is a constant process of questioning and seeing these objects not in isolation, but as expressions and artifacts of our social, political and personal desires.