Armstoelbekleed met tapisserie met een jongen met vogels (porteur d'oiseaux) (rug) en een vos met een fazant (zitting) c. 1755 - 1935

This tapestry-upholstered armchair was crafted by the Manufacture Royale des Gobelins. It reflects the opulent tastes of its time, when decorative arts were integral to expressing social status. The tapestry on the back depicts a boy with birds, evoking a sense of pastoral innocence. It is important to remember that childhood itself is a social construct. Here the representation is undoubtedly idealized and removed from the realities of child labor. Meanwhile, the seat shows a fox with a pheasant. The inclusion of hunting scenes reflects aristocratic pastimes. Gobelins tapestries were often commissioned by the French monarchy and nobility, embodying power and privilege. Woven into the fabric are complex histories of class, labor, and representation. Consider how the chair’s imagery reinforces societal hierarchies, while also offering glimpses into the cultural values of its era. The chair invites us to reflect on the stories we choose to weave into our own lives.