Buffetkast after 1878

This print shows a design for a buffetkast, likely created in France in the 19th century. The designer, whose name is lost to us, worked in ink and watercolor. These were standard tools of the period, used to render a range of goods for a growing consumer market. Here, the print’s surface is smooth, yet the image conveys something of the depth and heft of the proposed cabinet. The linear precision evokes the skill of a trained hand, but also anticipates the machine-made aesthetic that would soon dominate furniture production. The design itself is interesting: at once recalling historical styles, yet also streamlined for efficient manufacture and, ultimately, sale. Consider the labor involved in creating the original object, and the many further examples that might have been made. The buffetkast speaks volumes about the social relations of its time. It challenges us to consider the role of both hand and machine in shaping our material world, blurring the boundaries between art, design, and commerce.