Buffetkast, kast en tafel 1895

Editor: This drawing from 1895, titled "Buffetkast, kast en tafel," seems to depict furniture designs in a neoclassical style. It looks like a page out of a catalogue. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: What I see here isn't just a record of objects but a documentation of production. Consider the materials suggested - the wood, glass, and the finishes they might have used. How would the labor have been divided? Who would have sourced these materials and what kind of market demand drove its creation? Editor: So, you’re interested in what these objects tell us about society at the time, more than just the aesthetics? Curator: Exactly! These meticulously drawn furnishings hint at a rising middle class, one eager to emulate aristocratic tastes through mass production. Note the ‘Petit Buffet Louis XV’ label. What does it signify when you create the 'small' or the 'petite' for a certain group? Is it an appropriation or a simplification? What are its origins? Also, where was this printed and distributed? Editor: That’s a good point. The text at the bottom mentions it was "Publie par Vve Maguemt Arch. Rue de la Louverie 5, Paris". So, it tells us about the printer and its location. Curator: And doesn’t it implicitly touch upon our contemporary fascination with vintage design? Editor: Absolutely! Seeing the name and the address makes the document tangible; that’s fascinating how these things were produced for the consumption of middle-class individuals! Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Of course! I'm glad to provide insight into production, labor, and distribution. It adds a different dimension to our interpretation of decorative art.