Armchair 1680 - 1710

Editor: So here we have a wooden armchair dating back to sometime between 1680 and 1710. It’s currently held here at the Art Institute of Chicago, maker unknown. It strikes me as surprisingly ornate, given what I imagine everyday life must have been like back then. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: You know, when I look at this chair, I don’t just see furniture; I see a conversation. I imagine a craftsman, alone in his workshop, wrestling with not just the wood but with ideas of comfort, status, and the simple human need for rest. Look at the spindles – each one carefully turned, a testament to hours of dedication. What do you think that level of care says about the value they placed on everyday objects? Editor: It suggests that even basic items could be imbued with a sense of artistry and importance. It is much fancier than a simple stool. The woven seat adds to that as well. Curator: Precisely! That weaving would have been time-consuming, likely a skill passed down through generations. There’s a story woven into that seat as surely as there are fibers intertwined. Now, I wonder, who might have sat in this chair? A landowner perhaps or a family patriarch, someone who held a position of respect within their community? Editor: It definitely seems like a special object, maybe reserved for particular people or occasions. Compared to modern furniture made by machines, I am struck by how much time it must have taken to produce something like this by hand. Curator: Absolutely, and that’s the key. This armchair represents not just craftsmanship but also time—time taken, time invested, and ultimately, time well spent. The artist is a master storyteller, speaking through shape and material. What a remarkable voice. Editor: It really makes you think about the value we place on objects today versus then. I appreciate how much richness of detail and historical reflection you've unlocked with the benefit of your expert eye. Curator: And I, you, my dear friend. Now if this chair could only talk, I imagine we'd be up all night!