Livre de Tables de Diverses Formes 1716

This is Jean Bernard Toro’s “Livre de Tables de Diverses Formes,” a design for an ornate table and sconce, created in the 1700s. During this period, the decorative arts flourished under the patronage of the aristocracy. Toro was born in Paris, and became an established sculptor and ornamentalist. Here, the classical motifs—cherubs, portrait cameos, and grotesque masks—speak to the prevailing tastes of the era. But, the image also reflects the values of its time. While the design embodies elegance and refinement, it also speaks to the stark disparities in French society. Consider the labor required to produce such intricate designs and the many hands, often unacknowledged, that would bring Toro’s vision to life. What might it mean to consider the design as a document of social history? Doesn’t it leave you to consider questions of labor, craftsmanship, and social class? How might the design, and its reception, be interpreted through a contemporary lens?