Twee tafels met plateaus after 1878

This print presents two small tables, likely for display, from a French furniture magasin. At first glance, these appear to be simple household objects, but let’s consider the symbolic weight of such items within a broader context. The tables' circular tiers speak to an ancient tradition. Circular motifs appear throughout history, from the sun discs of ancient Egypt to the Roman Colosseum, symbolizing unity, eternity, and the cosmos. The tiered structure suggests a hierarchy, a way of organizing and elevating objects within a domestic space. Recall the tiered altars of antiquity, where offerings were placed, each level bringing the object closer to the divine. This impulse to elevate and arrange can be seen even today, from the simplest of shelves to elaborate display cases. These tables reflect a human desire to order our world, to bring beauty and meaning to the everyday objects that surround us. This piece captures a moment in the ongoing dance between form and function, utility and the primal need for symbolic order.