Bed met rookvat 1745 - 1775

This design for a bed with brazier is a delicate line engraving. Though anonymous, we can appreciate the hand skills and the processes of production and consumption that it represents. The design itself suggests a confluence of practices, combining fine woodworking, upholstery, and metalwork in the form of the brazier that crowns the design. Note the repeating elements, a testament to the division of labour required to produce it, where specialized makers would each contribute to the whole. The emphasis here is on refinement, typical of the 18th century. Yet it's important to realize that all this luxury was only possible because of widespread exploitation. Skilled makers were essential, but so too was the availability of cheap raw materials, which underpinned the market for designs like this. Considering the context of production and consumption allows us to fully appreciate the aesthetic qualities. It challenges the traditional distinctions between design and craft.