Design for a pier table 1695 - 1705

This is an anonymous design for a pier table, carefully rendered in pen and brown ink with a brown wash. The drawing gives us insight into the lives of those who commissioned and enjoyed such luxurious items. Note the figures adorning the sides, each is half human and half fantastical creatures. On the left, a female figure stands, her bare breasts and flowing hair embodying classical ideals of beauty and grace. Juxtapose her with the figure on the right: the male form, muscular and winged. Together, they speak to the gendered expectations embedded in the art and design of the period. The symmetry and ornate detailing reflect a society deeply invested in both aesthetics and status. These are not just tables, they’re statements, embodying power, wealth, and cultural values. Through this design, we see echoes of a world shaped by inequality, beauty, and the enduring quest for meaning.