Card Table 1816 - 1830

Here we have a card table, of an unknown date, by an anonymous artist. This object emerges from a very particular social class and moment in history when leisure became a performance of status. Card tables like this were centerpieces in wealthy homes, spaces where fortunes were won and lost, and social networks were solidified, underscoring the complex relationship between private pleasure and public image. They were spaces for women and men. Consider the stories it could tell about the dynamics of gender, class, and power within the domestic sphere. The anonymity of the artist also invites reflection on the skilled laborers, often overlooked, who contributed to the making of such refined objects. What value do we place on craft, and whose stories do we elevate in the narratives of art history? What happens to the stories of those who made the card table? Think about the hands that have touched this table, the stakes wagered, and the laughter shared, as you contemplate the enduring legacy of this seemingly simple piece of furniture.