Hoekkast en buffetkast 1895

These furniture designs were produced by Léon Laroche as part of a series of lithographs. Note the symmetry of the pieces, as well as the repeated use of geometric patterns and the sun motif crowning the buffet. The sun, an ancient symbol of enlightenment and life, has been depicted across cultures from Egyptian deities to Greek mythology. In this instance, the sun is integrated into the domestic sphere, suggesting the home is not merely a shelter, but also a source of warmth, prosperity and spiritual awakening. This echoes ancient rituals where the hearth was seen as the center of the home, a place of offerings and family unity. The symbolic weight of the sun is transferred through generations; its emotional and psychological pull persists, influencing even the design of our furniture. The resurgence of such potent symbols reveals our deep, subconscious yearning for meaning and connection to the cosmos.