Highboy c. 1938

Editor: Here we have "Highboy," created around 1938 by Ferdinand Cartier. It’s a rendering, both drawing and of wood. At first glance, it feels almost like a memory, a really formal yet warm one. What's your perspective on this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, the "Highboy"! For me, it whispers of heirloom treasures and whispered secrets. The precise draftsmanship, it's a love letter to craftsmanship. But behind the seemingly straightforward depiction lies an element of fantasy. It feels like Cartier wasn't merely documenting, but imagining the potential a piece of furniture could have; he dreamt of a perfect "highboy". And the handles! They catch the light just so... Almost like jewelry. Tell me, does it feel static, or like it might walk away? Editor: It definitely wants to stay put, feels very grounded despite those elegant legs! You mentioned “whispered secrets” which really sticks. Is it meant to represent status then? Curator: Precisely. Think of the items carefully stowed within, imbued with a past and waiting to weave themselves into the tapestry of someone's life. The “Highboy” would sit tall amongst other furnishings to assert its own legacy. Editor: That's beautiful! Now I see it less as just furniture, but a time capsule almost. Thanks for helping to unlock the charm of the piece. Curator: And thank *you* for letting me dance within it, imagining what mysteries each drawer holds! Perhaps it’s the ephemera of some glamorous film star... Or perhaps nothing more than the echo of hope. It seems that the secrets that it houses is truly in the mind of the beholder.