Lady's Writing Cabinet c. 1953

This drawing of a lady's writing cabinet was made by Nicholas Gorid. We can see a design rendered with pencil and watercolor, depicting a refined piece of furniture. The cabinet showcases a careful manipulation of wood, a material deeply connected to histories of both craft and industry. The design features delicate inlay work and veneering, techniques requiring considerable skill and precision. The cabinet's surface seems to be carefully constructed and then finished, with an eye toward revealing the wood's inherent grain and color. Consider, too, the social implications of such a piece. A lady's writing cabinet speaks to notions of leisure, education, and status in a specific social class. The amount of labor involved in sourcing the materials, crafting the cabinet, and executing the design would have been considerable, and it invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between design, labor, and consumption. Approaching the object in this way emphasizes the historical and social context in which the cabinet would have been made and used.