Design for Export Furniture 1795 - 1805

This anonymous design for export furniture was created with ink and color on paper. The drawing shows an elegant chair and small table placed on a platform, likely intended for an affluent Western consumer. The designs are based on traditional Chinese forms, but simplified for easier, cheaper production, and appeal to foreign tastes. Consider the labor required to produce such a piece: the felling of trees, milling of lumber, intricate carving and joinery, finishing, and transportation. Each step relies on skilled hands, but also reflects broader economic forces. Export wares like this represent a complex negotiation between cultural exchange, aesthetic adaptation, and the demands of global capitalism. Looking closely at the design, we can appreciate how the inherent qualities of wood – its grain, density, and capacity for intricate carving – are highlighted, speaking to the traditions of craftsmanship and the global marketplace it occupied. By considering the making and the material, we can gain insight into the intertwined histories of art, craft, and commerce.