Design for a Mirrored Cabinet and Four Chairs 1800 - 1850

This watercolor drawing shows a design for a mirrored cabinet and four chairs. It offers us a glimpse into the world of 19th-century interior design, and the social values it embodied. The symmetrical arrangement, the ornate details, and the classical references such as the Corinthian pilasters indicate a taste for formality, order, and tradition. The inclusion of a mirror above the cabinet suggests an interest in display, status and self-reflection. Furniture like this would have been commissioned by wealthy families who were eager to showcase their refinement, and their ability to keep up with the latest trends. Understanding this design requires historical research. Auction catalogs and design publications, for instance, can shed light on the circulation of design ideas and tastes, and help situate the work in its proper social and institutional context. The meaning of art is contingent on the social and institutional contexts in which it is made and used.