Haard met spiegel c. 1895 - 1910

This fireplace and mirror, or "Haard met spiegel," as it's called, was made by Léon Laroche. It’s this delicately rendered vision of domestic life, and right away I’m drawn to the way the cool pastels are laid out – a process of suggestion more than declaration. Look at the tiles, they're so precise, yet the mirroring surface is a washy expanse of muted greys. The details of the woodwork have a linear quality, a kind of hand-drawn feel, that softens the formality of the design. I mean, imagine actually trying to construct this thing in real life! It's as much an idea of a fireplace as it is a plan. This piece reminds me of some of the utopian architectural drawings of the early 20th century. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to shout. Sometimes, it whispers possibilities.