Console table (one of a pair) 1730 - 1745

This console table was made in France by François Rournier, though we don't know the exact date. It’s carved of wood, gilded, and topped with marble. Now, there’s a lot to unpack here. Console tables were originally designed to be attached to a wall, a purely decorative piece. What I find interesting is the sheer labor involved in its creation, the carving and gilding would have taken many hours of highly skilled work. We might also consider where the materials came from. The marble was quarried and transported, the wood carefully selected and seasoned. Then there’s the gold itself. All this testifies to the networks of trade and extraction that fueled the decorative arts of the period. When we consider the incredible skill, time, and resources poured into such an object, we realize that this table is more than just a functional piece of furniture. It’s a symbol of power, status, and the vast social inequalities that defined the era. Understanding the material reality of its making allows us to see beyond its glittering surface.