Dining Room Chair c. 1940

Sarkis Erganian created this watercolor painting called "Dining Room Chair". The image offers a glimpse into the world of domestic design, reflecting broader social and cultural values related to home and family. Consider the historical context in which this chair was designed and used. Details such as the material or style point to a specific time period and socio-economic class. Was it mass-produced or custom-made? Who would have used it, and in what kind of setting? Was it meant to be purely functional, or did it also serve as a status symbol? By studying design objects like this chair, historians can gain valuable insight into the social and cultural norms of the past. Catalogues, advertisements, and other archival documents can provide additional clues about its production, distribution, and consumption. Ultimately, these analyses invite us to reflect on how material culture shapes our daily lives and social identities.