Design for Console Table 1850 - 1904

This is Robert William Hume's design for a console table, made in nineteenth-century Britain. The drawing offers us a glimpse into the aesthetic preferences of the Victorian era, as well as the production and consumption of luxury goods. Hume, a British designer, here presents an ornate Neoclassical table in meticulous detail. The inclusion of classical motifs, such as scrolls and foliage, speak to the cultural values of the British upper classes, whose fascination with antiquity lent itself to the decoration of elite homes. This drawing may have been commissioned by a wealthy client, hoping to exhibit their status, or perhaps it was part of a pattern book, intended to circulate among furniture makers. Design drawings like this one offer a useful resource for historians, helping us to trace the circulation of ideas, artistic styles, and the social networks that supported artistic production. Considering these elements helps us to understand art as more than just an object: it's a reflection of the society that produced it.