Card Table 1935 - 1942

Mario De Ferrante rendered this card table with watercolor, capturing more than just its physical form. Notice the cabriole legs, ending in what are called "pad feet." The cabriole leg isn’t merely a design choice; its gentle curve is a visual echo across centuries. Think of the sinuous curves in depictions of the human figure, stretching back to classical antiquity. Its presence in furniture design speaks to a desire to humanize the inanimate, to infuse everyday objects with the grace and dynamism of the living form. The "pad foot" is a simplified club foot. Recall the paw feet of ancient Egyptian furniture, or the claw-and-ball feet seen in Chippendale designs. There's a subconscious reaching back to animal strength and stability, rendered here in miniature. This motif has reappeared and adapted over centuries, reflecting an ongoing dialogue between cultures and eras. It's a visual rhythm, beating through time.