Table (Lyre Pedestal) 1936

This is Joseph Rothenberg's watercolor rendering of a lyre pedestal table. Although the exact date is unknown, Rothenberg, who lived between 1855 and 1995, likely created this piece during a time when historical revival styles were popular. The table, with its lyre-shaped support and paw feet, evokes a sense of classical elegance and perhaps a nostalgic longing for a bygone era. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, such furniture was often associated with wealth and cultural refinement. However, consider the implications of such displays of opulence. In a time marked by social disparities, objects like these acted as silent testaments to the complex interplay of class, taste, and aspiration. Rothenberg’s piece prompts us to reflect on the stories objects tell about identity and the values we assign to them. It invites us to consider how historical aesthetics are continually reinterpreted in dialogue with contemporary life.