Naaimachine van gelakt staal, ingelegd met parelmoer en voorzien van keramiek handvat, op een houten bodemplaat c. 1880 - 1900

This is a sewing machine by Biesolt & Locke, crafted from lacquered steel inlaid with mother-of-pearl, featuring a ceramic handle, and mounted on a wooden base. The machine strikes an aesthetic balance. Its intricate embellishments offer an ornamental contrast to its primary function as a tool of labor. Notice how the interplay between the lustrous steel and the iridescent pearl elevates it beyond mere utility, hinting at the evolving role of machines in society. At the time it challenges the conventional divides between industry and artistry, which reflects broader shifts in cultural values. The sewing machine's design incorporates decoration, transforming it into an object that blurs the boundaries between the functional and the decorative, challenging traditional notions of value and taste.