Design for Three Sets of Shelves 1800 - 1850

This sheet presents us with an anonymous design for three sets of shelves in pen and brown wash over graphite. Consider these shelves as more than mere furniture; they are silent witnesses to the stories of display and organization. This design, though unsigned, speaks to the broader historical context of domestic life and interior design. The attention to detail in the shelves, with their decorative elements, evokes a sense of bourgeois aspiration. Each shelf invites us to imagine the objects it might hold: books, curiosities, family heirlooms. These shelves might have been intended to display status, taste, and personal identity. The anonymity of the artist underscores the historical erasure of so many creators, especially those working in applied arts. There is something very poignant about the unknown artist whose hand meticulously crafted these designs.