Small oval writing table (one of a pair) 1770 - 1780

This small oval writing table was crafted by Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix, in 18th-century France, a period defined by its rigid class structure and opulent displays of wealth. Pieces such as this would have been commissioned for the homes of the aristocracy. In this stratified world, furniture, with its carefully chosen materials and design, played a role in conveying the social standing of its owner. The table’s elegant lines and use of precious materials, like exotic wood and gilded bronze, speak to a culture of privilege, where access to such luxuries was dictated by birth and status. Consider then, the labor involved in the creation of this table, not just the expertise of Lacroix, but the many artisans involved in sourcing materials, and the unseen hands of those who toiled in far-off lands to procure these resources. This table asks us to reflect on the complex web of power and labor that underpinned its creation and use.