Buffet met terugwijkende bovenbouw waarin twee laden en een schap, versierd met snijwerk van vruchten en gestileerd bladwerk 1915

This buffet with receding superstructure, made of wood and decorated with carvings of fruits and stylized foliage, was designed by Theo Nieuwenhuis. Looking at this piece, we might consider the Dutch context in which it was produced. Nieuwenhuis worked during a time of significant social and artistic change, and his designs often reflect the period's interest in craftsmanship and functional design. The buffet embodies elements of the Art Nouveau movement. The carved decorations, while stylized, evoke natural forms, and the overall design emphasizes clean lines. By examining design journals, exhibition catalogs, and other period sources, historians can reveal how Nieuwenhuis's work engaged with contemporary debates. Was he embracing new aesthetics, or critiquing the industrialization of design? Considering how period sources shape our understanding, what this buffet tells us about the values and aspirations of its time.