Design for a Desk on Wheels and a Canterbury Table on Wheels 19th century

This design for a desk and table on wheels, rendered in ink and watercolor, invites us to consider ideas of domesticity, class, and the changing roles within the household. The mobility implied by the wheels, though seemingly practical, also speaks to a shifting social landscape where even furniture could adapt to the needs of its users. As an anonymous work, we can only speculate about the artist’s position, and the context in which it was created. However, the design suggests a culture of leisure and domesticity, likely intended for a middle- or upper-class home, where the need for flexible furniture might arise. Note the delicate gold embellishments which add an undeniable sense of luxury to these objects. It's hard not to consider how such designs reflect and reinforce the socio-economic structures of their time. These designs of the desk and table are not just functional objects; they are cultural artifacts that reflect the desires, values, and societal structures of a particular time.