High Chest of Drawers 1750 - 1770

Editor: This High Chest of Drawers, crafted anonymously between 1750 and 1770, is currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Its wooden structure and decorative style make it an intriguing object. It seems very proper. What kind of symbolism can we find here? Curator: It's a fascinating object, isn't it? To me, these chests represent more than mere storage. They symbolize aspiration, upward mobility even. Notice the towering height – a physical manifestation of reaching for something higher. The elaborate carving, while subtle, suggests wealth and refined taste, ideals of the era. Does the brass hardware remind you of something else? Editor: Hmm, the handles, the little flourishes almost look like stylized flowers or leaves. What could that suggest? Curator: Exactly! They point to an enduring connection with nature and fertility. Think of these objects existing in homes: chests safeguarded personal belongings, representing the private, domestic sphere – and they reflect aspirations, connections to a desired idealized nature, and wealth. Does this connection inform your impression? Editor: Yes, now it seems less about stuffy formality and more about someone's hopes and dreams for a better life expressed through the objects they owned. So even a piece of furniture holds its own symbolic world? Curator: Precisely! Every detail—the wood, the shape, the hardware—contributes to a story far beyond functionality, embedded with societal ideals and individual longings. Editor: I see it in a whole new light now! It’s a great peek into the past! Thanks!