Side Chair 1722 - 1744

This “Side Chair” was crafted by an anonymous artist; its very anonymity speaks volumes. Think about who gets to be remembered, whose labor is valued, and whose is erased. What does it mean when furniture, an item intimately connected with daily life and domestic space, is made by unnamed hands? It invites us to consider the hierarchies of labor and craft. This chair, with its sturdy wooden frame and leather seat, likely sat in a home where someone of means would’ve rested. But what about the person who made it? Did they ever sit? Did they take pride in their craft? Were they enslaved, underpaid, or simply unacknowledged? This chair is more than just a functional object; it is a silent witness to histories of class, labor, and identity. It prompts us to consider the stories of those whose names have been lost but whose work continues to shape our world.