Eating and work table (one of a pair) 1753 - 1770

This is an eating and work table, one of a pair, created in the 18th century by Bernard II van Risenburgh. The table stands as a testament to the opulence and social stratification of the period. During this time, the aristocracy enjoyed lives of luxury, supported by the labor of enslaved people and a growing merchant class. Objects like this table, with its intricate detailing, were markers of status and wealth. They reflect the sharp divide between the privileged and those who served them. This divide also includes gender expectations in the 18th century. Tables of this kind provided a space for women to engage in domestic activities, such as eating, reading or needlework. Consider, as you look at it, how this object represents a world of both beauty and inequality. It invites us to reflect on the stories of those whose labor made such luxury possible, as well as the emotional and personal lives of the wealthy for whom it was intended.