Buffetkast, kast en tafel 1895

Léon Laroche created this print of furniture designs, “Buffetkast, kast en tafel,” or “Sideboard, Cabinet and Table” sometime in the 19th century. In this period, France was emerging from the throes of revolution and empire, and design looked to the past, especially to the Louis XV style. Here, the elegance of curved lines and elaborate ornamentation speaks to the tastes of an elite class, while the printmaking technique makes this kind of design accessible to a broader audience. The items are labeled in French as dining room pieces “Buffet de salle à manger Louis XV” and “Servante et table assorties au buffet". The focus on dining suggests more than mere utility; it evokes a lifestyle centered around meals and social gatherings, which were highly stratified across gender and class lines. Laroche’s print gives us insight into the aspirations and aesthetics of the rising middle class and the aristocracy as they navigated a rapidly changing social landscape. It invites us to reflect on how furniture can be both an object of desire and a marker of identity.