Sideboard 1790 - 1815

Curator: Editor: Standing before us is a mahogany Sideboard, dating back to somewhere between 1790 and 1815. Its elegant curve and the delicate inlay work are captivating. Given its presence here at the Art Institute of Chicago, I wonder about its cultural origins. What details can you share? Curator: Notice first the mahogany: its sourcing would be tightly coupled to colonial trade routes of that era. This wasn't simply a piece of furniture; it's a statement about power, consumption, and access to resources extracted from distant lands. Look at the joinery – a craft involving specialized knowledge and labour. Editor: So, the value lies not just in its function but also in understanding its historical making process. Curator: Precisely! Every detail, from the brass pulls to the veneer, involves processes deeply entwined with social and economic conditions. What does the uniformity of the design suggest to you? Was this piece made bespoke, or for broader consumption? Editor: I'm starting to consider how mass production might’ve influenced these later examples… like the hardware. Curator: And don't forget the cultural value we place on objects. How do they communicate status and values that reflect the dominant ideology? How has the role of the artist or craftsperson evolved with changes in material production? Editor: It’s like deconstructing this beautiful object into raw materials, labor, and even colonial history. I’ve never thought of furniture quite this way before! Curator: Exactly. That’s the beginning of a Materialist perspective. It allows us to look at art and artifacts not just as objects of beauty, but as embodiments of socio-economic forces. Editor: Thank you, I will keep a keen eye on all of those things.