Mirror - Chippendale Style c. 1937

This drawing of a Chippendale style mirror, was made by James M. Lawson. I find it kind of fascinating because it’s not just a representation but a plan, an idea laid out on paper. Look closely, and you’ll see there's a real attention to the texture of the wood, those warm, reddish-brown striations contrasted with the gilded details, drawn with such precision. It’s like Lawson is inviting us to imagine running our fingers over the finished piece, feeling the smooth grain and the raised ornamentation. And that duck, or is it a goose, perched right on top? It's kind of comical, disrupting the formality of the design. This piece reminds me a little of the work of some contemporary designers who play with historical styles, reinterpreting them with a knowing wink. Art, after all, is a conversation across time, a constant remixing of ideas.