Acht balusters c. 1866 - 1900

These are eight designs for balusters by Charles Claesen. They are rendered with a close attention to detail. You can really see the qualities of the timber that the craftsman would have been working with. Balusters like these are made through a labor intensive process, either by hand carving or with the use of a lathe. The designs are highly ornate, with the dense decoration typical of luxury items. Notice the classical motifs like acanthus leaves and portrait busts. These details would need to be carefully worked by skilled hands to capture the required aesthetic. The production of such items connects to wider issues of social class and the use of skilled labor in the making of architectural features. By understanding the processes and materials involved, we can appreciate the craftsmanship embedded in these designs and question the boundaries between design, craft, and art.