Drop Leaf, Pedestal Table 1935 - 1942

Here we have a technical drawing of a table, crafted by Arthur Johnson, presumably in 1940. Note the feet upon which the table rests; these clawed feet are ancient symbols. They evoke images of mythical beasts—the griffin or the lion—symbols of guardianship and power. We see these feet echoed in Romanesque church carvings and Renaissance furniture. A symbol evolving, each culture infusing it with new meaning yet still tethered to its primal origins. The impulse to anchor our belongings with such imagery, to imbue the mundane with potency, reveals a deep-seated desire for control and protection. Like talismans, these artistic elements are meant to ward off chaos. They connect the past and present in an endless, cyclical dance. The power of symbols lies not in fixed meanings but in their capacity to continuously transform.