Design for Standing Screen 1841 - 1884

This pencil design for a standing screen was made in London by Charles Hindley and Sons. Hindley was one of England's leading cabinet-making and decorating firms, producing high-end furniture and interiors for wealthy clients. The Rococo style of the screen, with its curving lines and elaborate ornamentation, speaks to the firm’s mastery of historical designs. Though it is just a drawing, one can imagine the finished piece rendered in a dark hardwood like mahogany or walnut, the carving executed by highly skilled artisans. The production of such a piece would have involved a complex division of labor, with different workers specializing in design, carving, joinery, and finishing. The finished screen would have been a luxury object, intended for display in a fashionable home, and a testament to the skill and artistry of the craftsmen who made it. Looking at this drawing, we can appreciate how the arts of design and craft intersected in the 19th century, and how the production of even a single object could involve the coordinated efforts of many hands.