Drie kleine boekentafels en negen tafelbladen met inlegwerk before 1904

This print, by an anonymous maker, features designs for small tables with inlaid surfaces. They were made to promote the wares of a furniture store. The tabletops are studies in marquetry, a technique of creating intricate patterns by fitting together thin veneers of wood, stone, or shell. Look at the variety of patterns here, from the radial symmetry of the ‘Marqueterie fond Cuivre’ to the more geometric ‘Frise.’ Each of these designs would have required careful cutting and assembly, demanding a high level of skill. The print gives us a glimpse into the world of 19th-century furniture production, where specialized craftspeople produced components for larger workshops. It prompts us to think about the labor and expertise embedded in these objects, and the ways in which design and production were increasingly intertwined with consumer culture. By focusing on process, we can appreciate the skill and effort involved in bringing these designs to life.