Checker-board Table-tilt Top c. 1936

Curator: Here we have a drawing, "Checker-board Table-tilt Top," created around 1936 by Magnus S. Fossum. Editor: It has this very formal presentation with the different scale views. The craftsmanship shown in the table itself looks amazing. Curator: It’s quite an interesting example of craftsmanship elevated. Fossum has detailed every aspect of the design. We see technical draftsmanship paired with an eye for ornate detail in the legs. Editor: Absolutely. The way he rendered the wood grain—it almost feels tactile. One immediately focuses on how this table might have been made. I’m curious about the cabinetmakers who could have executed such intricate designs. This isn’t mass production; this is high-level artisan work. Curator: It is striking how he gives equal emphasis to utility and aesthetic, it could point toward a society at that time where practical, usable objects held great aesthetic value and status, reflecting the resources and artistry a family could afford to display. The game top further points to ideas of family entertainment and values around leisure. Editor: I agree, there’s also a curious blend happening, a celebration of artisanal techniques with a touch of formalism. But given its status as a drawing, does that alter our perception of what the artist wants us to value? We're one step removed from the actual piece itself, maybe emphasizing the idea over the final material product. Curator: Good point. We are observing design ideals which may or may not translate into accessible social realities. But it offers an insightful peek into a bygone era, one that balanced handcrafting traditions with the emergence of design as a valued commodity and societal signifier. Editor: Well, it gives me a greater appreciation for the skills required to bring design to life, no matter the ultimate fate of this piece!