Buffetkast naar ontwerp van Mathieu Lauweriks c. 1910

This photograph depicts a "Buffetkast naar ontwerp van Mathieu Lauweriks," or sideboard designed by Mathieu Lauweriks. While its maker is unknown, the piece embodies a fascinating interplay of form and structure. Notice how the photograph composition emphasizes symmetry and balance. The cabinet is divided into upper and lower registers with a classical arrangement of horizontal and vertical lines. The geometric floral patterns on the lower doors contrast with the rectilinear structure, creating a visual tension. This tension reflects a dialogue between ornament and utility, form and function. Lauweriks’ design touches on the late 19th-century interest in geometric abstraction and the grid as a system for organizing visual space. While seemingly functional, the design engages with semiotic systems, where each element—the line, the flower, the cabinet's shape—acts as a signifier within a broader cultural discourse about domesticity, order, and aesthetics. The Buffetkast is a testament to the layered meanings embedded in what we might otherwise consider a commonplace object.