Twee rozetten, twee tafels en een tafelklok 1817

This is a drawing by Pietro Ruga featuring two rosettes, two tables, and a table clock. Executed in ink, Ruga’s work shows a variety of items indicative of early industrial design. Notice the linear precision, which anticipates the streamlining aesthetic that would soon dominate furniture design. The clock, in particular, is intriguing, its shape and embellishment betraying an interest in Egyptian motifs, typical of the time. But how was this design actually produced? Well, drawings like these, and the skilled labor to produce them, were crucial to creating the “look” of wealth. The more ornamentation, the more specialized the craft work, the more expensive the item. In this sense, even a simple drawing anticipates a world of complex fabrication and commerce. So, the next time you see a decorative design, take a moment to consider all that went into its making. The materials, the tools, the skilled labor – these are what truly give an object its value and its meaning.