Ronde bank 1885 - 1895

Léon Laroche made this print of a design for a 'Ronde Bank' or Round Bench in 1885. This design comes from a publication called "Le Garde-Meuble", a repository of furniture designs. The print shows a round bench with six seats, upholstered in a light fabric, with a decorative fringe. Designs like these were meant to inspire and guide furniture makers, reflecting and shaping tastes among wealthy consumers in France. In the late 19th century, design publications like "Le Garde-Meuble" became important in standardizing taste and promoting certain styles across the furniture industry. Luxury goods, in particular, played a key role in signifying status and social class. These designs also reinforced the image of Paris as the capital of style and luxury. To understand the full social life of designs like this, we can look at archives of furniture companies. Auction catalogs and estate inventories can also help us understand how furniture functioned in the homes of the wealthy.