Design for a Chimneypiece 1740 - 1800

This is Sir William Chambers' "Design for a Chimneypiece," an architectural drawing made sometime in the 18th century. Chambers was a Swedish-Scottish architect, and he became the Surveyor General and Comptroller of the Office of Works for the British government in 1782. During the 18th century, domestic architecture was not just about utility, it became a way of signaling social standing and personal taste. Fireplaces, like the one in this drawing, were central features that combined function with a display of wealth. Chambers' design reflects the prevailing Neoclassical style, with its emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and elements borrowed from ancient Greek and Roman architecture. But consider this: Whose stories are being told through these grand designs? While Chambers and his peers shaped the visual culture of their time, the labor and experiences of the working class and enslaved people who constructed these spaces are notably absent from the historical narrative. Through this design, we can consider the stories behind the spaces we inhabit and whose voices are amplified or silenced in their creation.