Card Table 1760 - 1790

Curator: Before us, we have an exquisite card table crafted from wood around 1760-1790, likely of United States origin. It’s currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: The first thing I notice are the legs, these dark, elegantly curved supports ending in ball-and-claw feet. They evoke a certain sense of…grasping. Almost predatory. Curator: Indeed. The cabriole legs and ball-and-claw feet are hallmark features of the Queen Anne style and were popular motifs employed by furniture makers of that period. Editor: Tell me about these symbolic components in the decorative arts, these features often borrowed or derived from visual programs like heraldry. Does the symbolism extend beyond mere aesthetic enjoyment? Curator: Absolutely, the recurring image of the talon often implies attributes like seizing opportunities and asserting dominance. Further close examination reveals intricate leaf carving along the knees, disrupting the smooth line with naturalistic motifs. Editor: Given its function as a card table, the predatory quality could tie into the games played upon it—taking risks, grasping at fortune. Perhaps it was a daily reminder of that dynamic in the house for which it was designed? Curator: Precisely. It serves as a microcosm of societal aspirations and concerns. Structurally, the form dictates its function: it appears as a regular console until the top is unfolded, extending it into an ample surface ideal for gameplay. This element of concealed functionality reflects an increasing interest in versatile furniture design during the Baroque period. Editor: Yes, a silent witness to secrets shared and fortunes won or lost. I will remember the narrative encapsulated within this unassuming piece. Curator: And I appreciate its technical mastery, this combination of refined carving and subtle geometries demonstrating a highly cultivated sense of aesthetics that speaks volumes even now.