Kast, tafel en buffetkast 1895

This print by Léon Laroche shows a furniture set in the Renaissance style. It depicts a server and table, along with a dining room buffet. Notice the emphasis on carved ornament, with details that would have required immense skill. Furniture like this was produced in workshops, where divisions of labor prevailed. Certain individuals would specialize in the overall structure of the piece, while others would focus on the sculptural elements. While this division of labor allowed for increased efficiency, it also had social implications: some workers were more highly valued than others. Also, the design references a historical style, in keeping with the revivalist trends that were popular at the time. This design aesthetic was inextricably linked to capitalism, as it signified luxury and status. The production and consumption of such furniture reinforced the class structure of the period. The amount of work involved in the production process underscores the social and economic hierarchies of the time.