Chest 1935 - 1942

This blueprint of a chest was drafted by Walter W. Jennings, though we don't know exactly when. Jennings' lifetime spanned the Gilded Age through the late 20th century, when design underwent dramatic changes. The visual codes of this drawing point to the cultural history of design and interior decor. We can see visual elements of the late 19th century such as the use of decorative flourishes and classical allusions. The drawing is an interesting artifact in itself as a detailed plan of an object for the domestic sphere. How would the status and function of this object be altered as tastes changed through the 20th century? More historical research into Jennings’ career might reveal his institutional affiliations and the specific social context for his designs. Only then can we understand its role as a possible commentary on the social structures of his time.