Card table (from a large set)

This card table was made by Giles Grendey, sometime in the 18th century, using wood, gesso, and paint. It is a great example of japanning, a decorative technique that imitated Asian lacquer, and very popular in England at the time. The red ground color, floral motifs, and gilded accents all speak to the high level of craft involved. But the table also tells us about 18th-century commerce. Grendey ran a large workshop, exporting furniture across Europe and the Americas. This division of labor allowed for a high throughput of luxury objects, meeting the demand of an expanding consumer culture. Notice the form of the legs and the tabletop, skillfully shaped. The japanning would have been a specialized process, involving many layers of gesso and paint. All this handwork elevates the table, blurring the boundaries between furniture and fine art.