Game Table 1845 - 1855

Curator: Immediately, it strikes me as something from a period drama, all dark wood and elaborate curves. It looks so elegant. Editor: Indeed. Here we have Thomas Day’s “Game Table”, dating from between 1845 and 1855. Day was a prominent North Carolina furniture maker, and this table now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: "Game Table," makes sense! I see the influence of Baroque in the scrolling forms. Are those stylized lyre shapes in the supports? I wonder, does the design evoke notions of leisure, cultivated pastimes, and maybe even a bit of competitive spirit? Editor: Undoubtedly. In Day's time, furniture like this wasn't merely functional; it broadcast status. Its intricate carving reflects broader social aspirations. The question is, for whom did Day craft such refined pieces, considering the socio-political landscape of the pre-Civil War South? Curator: Ah, there is so much complexity here. The wood itself seems carefully chosen; the grain almost pulsates. It gives the piece an organic vitality amidst the formal structure. Do you see symbolic resonance in the choice of material? Perhaps reflecting the intertwined relationship between society and the natural world. Editor: Certainly. Walnut, being both sturdy and beautiful, may have symbolized groundedness and prosperity. More broadly, the survival and visibility of his crafted objects offer evidence to contest the restrictive climate of the period and serve as historical witness to the thriving lives and cultural production within antebellum Black communities. Curator: That’s such a rich point. This isn't just a table; it's a cultural statement frozen in time. Editor: Precisely. When we study works such as Day's "Game Table", we recognize how art continually challenges, and is challenged by, historical narratives.